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NEWS FROM THE GETTY

DATE: July 19, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GETTY MUSEUM EMBARKS ON CONSERVATION PROJECT OF TREASURE

Cabinet des Médailles’ Extraordinary Hoard of Ancient Roman Silver Luxury Objects Comes to the Getty for Three-Year-Long Conservation Project and Exhibition

Mercury Statuette, 2nd–3rd century. Beaker depicting the founding of the Isthmian Oinochoe with Palladium and Patroklos,

Unknown. Italian. Silver. Bibliothèque games, 1st century. Unknown. Italian. Silver and 1st century. Unknown. Italian. Silver Nationale de . gold. Bibliothèque Nationale de France. and gold. Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

LOS ANGELES—The J. Paul Getty Museum announced today that one of the most prominent holdings of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France’s Cabinet des Médailles in Paris, the Berthouville Treasure, has begun a three-year-long process of conservation and technical research at the Getty Villa. This rare cache of approximately 95 ancient Roman silver objects was discovered in March 1830 by a farmer plowing his field near the village of Berthouville in . An extraordinary group of luxury vessels—including bowls and pitchers, many with figural decoration, as well as two silver statuettes of the Roman god —the objects are associated with a nearby sanctuary of the god Mercury and date to the first through third centuries A.D. Four large, late antique silver missoria (plates) belonging to the Cabinet are also part of the conservation project.

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While undergoing conservation treatment at the Getty Villa, each piece will be individually cleaned and conserved, x-rayed and closely studied in preparation for a new publication on the hoard, and for inclusion in a 2014 exhibition at the Getty Villa of the holdings of ancient Roman luxury goods belonging to the Cabinet. Jerry Podany, the Getty Museum’s senior conservator of antiquities, said, “We feel extremely fortunate to be able to study and treat such a diverse range of silver objects from the same find site. Following our treatment and conservation efforts, these objects will be better understood, better preserved and available to a wider public.” Cabinet des Médailles curator Mathilde Avisseau-Broustet, who manages the collection along with curator Cécile Colonna, adds, “We appreciate the unique opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise with our colleagues at the Getty. Not only will the conservation project help preserve these national treasures, but the findings will also advance art historical research and promote collaborative scholarship between art historians, museum curators, conservators, and scientists.” New discoveries are already being made on the first of the objects x-rayed in January. Using the most current methods for treating silver artifacts, a recent analysis of two double- walled drinking vessels revealed hidden inscriptions on their interior surface. The inscriptions recorded the weight of the metal used to construct a portion of the object. This precise inventory information demonstrates an acute awareness of the high value of silver used in their manufacture. The x-rays also revealed various restoration materials, which will undergo scientific analysis in the coming year. Eduardo Sanchez, the Getty Museum’s associate conservator of antiquities, is leading the Getty’s conservation effort along with Susan Lansing Maish, the Getty Museum’s assistant conservator of antiquities. Funding for the shipment of the silver from France to Los Angeles was provided by the Getty Museum’s Villa Council.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Desiree Zenowich Getty Communications (310) 440-7304 [email protected]

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The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

The J. Paul Getty Museum collects in seven distinct areas, including Greek and Roman antiquities, European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts, and European and American photographs. The Museum's mission is to make the collection meaningful and attractive to a broad audience by presenting and interpreting the works of art through educational programs, special exhibitions, publications, conservation, and research.

Additional information is available at www.getty.edu. Sign up for e-Getty at www.getty.edu/subscribe to receive free monthly highlights of events at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa via e-mail, or visit www.getty.edu for a complete calendar of public programs.

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