DATE: March 12, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLLECTIONS ART FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD IS INSTALLED BY THEME IN RENOVATED GALLERIES AT THE GETTY VILLA LOS ANGELES—The J. Paul Getty Museum’s permanent collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities will be installed at the Getty Villa in galleries that are now organized by theme for easier accessibility. These groupings of objects will shed light on different aspects of life in the ancient world: from sports to religion, family, war, theater, and more. This approach enables visitors to easily view the artworks in the context of their use in classical societies, encouraging a deeper understanding of the period. Over 1,200 objects will be on view, out of approximately 44,000 in the Getty’s antiquities collection. The works will be presented in 23 galleries, with an additional six galleries devoted to changing and loan exhibitions that will allow for the presentation of focused shows, often featuring materials on loan from other institutions. These exhibitions may also incorporate works from the special collections of the Research Library at the Getty Research Institute (GRI) and reflect the scholarly activities of the Museum, the GRI, and the Getty Conservation Institute. Other highlights of the Museum include the Family Forum, a hands-on space for families filled with fun activities that encourage shared learning and discovery; and -more- Page 2 the TimeScape Room, a permanent installation that explores time, place, and artistic style in the ancient Mediterranean through interactive exhibits. FLOOR 1 GALLERIES Terracotta and Marble Vessels Ancient artisans shaped terracotta and marble to imitate the shapes and decorative schemes of vessels fashioned from metal, including precious gold, silver, and bronze. Clay, the most commonly available resource in antiquity, was easily worked and inexpensive, while marble was more costly and durable. Many terracotta and marble vessels were produced throughout the Mediterranean region, demonstrating their widespread appeal in the ancient world. Silver Treasures Objects made of precious metals were offered as gifts to the gods at sanctuaries and displayed in homes as a sign of status and wealth. Some of these objects survive today because they were buried in shrines and graves, or hidden in houses for safekeeping. Glass The earliest glassmaking techniques were labor intensive, and for centuries, glass was considered a luxury. With the invention of glassblowing in the first century B.C., vessels could be made more easily and glass became an affordable commodity. Bronze Vessels Bronze was used instead of pottery for a variety of containers in affluent households. Most of the pieces on view were part of a table service for the cena and comissatio, the dining and drinking parties hosted by wealthy Romans. Gods and Goddesses In antiquity, life revolved around religion and the worship of gods and goddesses, who inspired some of the greatest works of art. The Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans believed that the gods looked and behaved like humans, although they were distinguished by their immortality, beauty, and great powers. There were 12 primary divinities that the Greeks and Romans shared but called by different names. Luxury Vessels Precious metals, especially gold and silver, were a reliable form of wealth in antiquity. They functioned as status symbols in the home or prestigious gifts to the gods. Although objects fashioned from precious metals were often beautiful, their value was determined by their weight as well as their design. A variety of techniques, including hammering, chasing, and repoussé, were employed to fashion metal vessels. Many of these techniques are still used by metalsmiths today. -more- Page 3 Basilica Statues of gods and goddesses were made by the best sculptors of the day in a variety of precious materials, such as gold, ivory, bronze, and marble. Housed in temples and shrines, many of the sculptures became famous and small-scale versions were acquired by wealthy Romans to decorate their villas. This gallery includes works that were modeled after statues celebrated in antiquity. Monsters and Minor Deities Featured works in this gallery include depictions of Medusa, Nike, and snaky-legged giants in marble, bronze, and terracotta. Temple of Herakles This gallery is dedicated to a monumental 850-pound statue, the Lansdowne Herakles. All the statues in this gallery were unearthed in and around Rome in the 1600s and 1700s, and provide valuable information about the history of sculpture restoration and 18th-century practices of collecting ancient art. Mythological Heroes In antiquity, the heroes of classical mythology were considered historical figures who lived in earlier times. They occupied an intermediate position between the gods and mortals, and embodied positive qualities valued by ancient societies, serving as role models. Images of Theseus, Perseus, Orpheus, and Herakles are the focus of this display, which includes monumental terracotta figures, vases, mosaics, and marbles. Stories of the Trojan War Presented here are works of art that depict episodes of the Trojan War and its aftermath. Among the highlights in this gallery are a Roman sarcophagus depicting Greek hero Achilles dragging the body of the fallen Trojan hero Hector behind his chariot, and an Etruscan vase showing the blinding of the cyclops Polyphemos. Dionysos and the Theater Some of the world’s greatest plays were written by the ancient Greeks, who looked to Dionysos, the god of theater, for inspiration. This gallery includes a large bronze head of a young Dionysos wearing an ivy wreath on his head, emphasizing his role as the god of wine. Also on view here are vases, lamps, small bronzes, and terracottas depicting actors and scenes from ancient dramatic performances. The works in this gallery complement the Getty Villa’s theater program. FLOOR 2 GALLERIES Changing Exhibitions Six changing and loan exhibition galleries have been designed for maximum flexibility to present exhibitions ranging from 19th-century photographs of archaeological sites to ancient mosaics. -more- Page 4 Funerary Sculpture Each of the sculptures in this gallery commemorates the death of an individual. Both the Greek and the Romans honored the dead with highly visible monuments, which typically stood along roads leading out of cities. Idealized images of the dead served as models of proper appearance and behavior for the living. Animals in Antiquity Animals were a constant part of everyday life in the ancient world. They were a source of food, labor, companionship, and also acted as sacrifices in religious rituals. In art and myth, animals represented virtues and values, and were associated with different divinities. Arts of Greco-Roman Egypt Alexander the Great established Greek rule in Egypt in 332 B.C. For 300 years Greek and Egyptian art, religion, and culture intermixed. After the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C., Egypt came under Roman rule and a wave of “Egyptomania” swept the empire. Roman practices, such as realistic portraiture, were combined with Egyptian ones, such as mummification, to create such unique artifacts as mummy portraits painted on wooden panels, which are often called Fayum portraits after the district in Egypt where many have been recovered. The Museum’s fine collection of Fayum portraits and a painted sarcophagus and its contents are featured in this gallery. Women and Children in Antiquity This skylit space features marbles, vases, bronzes, and terracottas depicting aspects of the lives of women and children in ancient Greece and Rome. Throughout the ancient world, women’s lives centered on the home and family, although they also participated in public rituals. Depictions of women tend to be more idealized than those of men. Images of children and their toys in ancient art offer insight into their lives, which were largely predetermined by their gender and the status of their parents. Religious Offerings Gifts, often in the form of statues and other splendid artifacts, were given to the gods to thank them for blessings received and to ensure good fortune. Highlights of this gallery include marble reliefs, terracotta and bronze offerings, and scenes of sacrifice and dedication. Men in Antiquity Men of both high and low social status lived most of their lives in the public arena. This skylit gallery includes a large display of armor, statues, vases, and portraits depicting all aspects of the lives of men in ancient Greece and Rome, from their roles as warriors and politicians to philosophers and fishermen. -more- Page 5 The Victorious Youth Victorious athletes won honor and fame not only for themselves but also for their families and communities. Some were commemorated with statues. This gallery is dedicated to a life-size bronze depicting a victorious athlete. The gallery has a microclimate designed to maintain a condition of low relative humidity to allow the monumental bronze to be exhibited outside the confines of a display case. Athletes and Competition The modern-day Olympics are modeled on the ancient Greek games that were thought to have begun in 776 B.C. at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia. This gallery features works of art that reveal the importance of sport and competition in the ancient world. Highlights include a Panathenaic vase depicting athletic contests, small bronzes, a mosaic, and marble figures of athletes. Gems, Coins, and Jewelry Small precious articles such as gems, coins, jewelry, and carved ambers fill this gallery. Before ancient sites began to be excavated in the 18th century, coins and carved gems were among the first artifacts known from antiquity. Carefully studied and catalogued, these works served as the basis for the first modern discussions of ancient art. Griffins Part lion and part eagle, griffins symbolize the forces of land and air. In mythology they represent the power of the sun and were sacred to Apollo. They are also associated with Nemesis, the goddess of retribution.