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    The Lure of Italy: Artists’ Views

    May 9–July 30, 2017

    Getty Center

    <em>Riva degli Schiavoni, from near San Biagio, Venice</em>, 1826, Richard Parkes Bonington; watercolor over graphite, heightened with opaque watercolor. The J. Paul Getty Museum

    Riva degli Schiavoni, from near San Biagio, Venice, 1826, Richard Parkes Bonington; watercolor over graphite, heightened with opaque watercolor. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • <em>A View of the Bay of Naples, Looking Southwest from the Pizzofalcone towards Capo di Posilippo</em>, 1791, Giovanni Battista Lusieri; watercolor, opaque watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on six sheets of paper. The J. Paul Getty Museum

    A View of the Bay of Naples, Looking Southwest from the Pizzofalcone towards Capo di Posilippo, 1791, Giovanni Battista Lusieri; watercolor, opaque watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on six sheets of paper. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • <em>The Entrance to the Grotto at Posillipo</em>, about 1750, Claude-Joseph Vernet; pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash over black chalk. The J. Paul Getty Museum

    The Entrance to the Grotto at Posillipo, about 1750, Claude-Joseph Vernet; pen and brown ink with brown and gray wash over black chalk. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • <em>Piazza San Marco, Venice</em>, 1920s, Fédèle Azari, gelatin silver print. The J. Paul Getty Museum

    Piazza San Marco, Venice, 1920s, Fédèle Azari, gelatin silver print. The J. Paul Getty Museum

  • <em>A Regatta on the Grand Canal</em>, about 1778, Francesco Guardi; pen and brown ink and brush with brown wash over black chalk. The J. Paul Getty Museum

    A Regatta on the Grand Canal, about 1778, Francesco Guardi; pen and brown ink and brush with brown wash over black chalk. The J. Paul Getty Museum

The Lure of Italy: Artists’ Views

May 9–July 30, 2017, Getty Center

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From the crumbling ruins of ancient Rome to the clear light of Venice, Italy has fascinated travelers and artists for centuries. Visiting artists from across Europe made sketches to capture iconic views or preserve vivid memories, creating works saturated with atmosphere and beauty. Their Italian counterparts met the demand for tourist souvenirs by crafting their own masterpieces.

This exhibition features drawings and watercolors from the Getty Museum’s collection.

RELATED EVENTS

TALKS
Venice vs. Rome: A Capital Contest

Pitting gilded gondolas against sumptuous coaches, Venice and Rome sought to surpass each other in staging the 18th-century’s most spectacular festivals and celebrations. Peter Björn Kerber, curator of the exhibition Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe, explores the pictures Canaletto, Panini, and other leading painters produced to record these dazzling occasions.

Saturday, May 13, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum Lecture Hall

The Bumpy Road to Beautiful Italy

With one eye on the practicalities and perils of travel in Italy in past centuries, Julian Brooks, senior curator of drawings at the Getty, discusses some of the works of art made by visitors to the country, and how they responded to—and fueled—the lure of Italy.

Sunday, June 4, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum Lecture Hall

COURSES
Drawing from the Masters: Landscape Views

Enjoy the tradition of sketching from original works of art every first and third Sunday of the month at the Getty Center. In May, explore how to create atmospheric depth in landscape drawings using light and shadow with artist Kaitlynn Redell. All experience levels welcome. Sign-up begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Information Desk. This is a free program.

Sunday, May 7 and May 21, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum galleries

Drawing from the Masters: Plein Air Drawing

Enjoy the tradition of sketching from original works of art every first and third Sunday of the month at the Getty Center. In June, explore the art of drawing landscape views while working in the Central Garden with artists Kaitlynn Redell and Deborah Shaw. All experience levels welcome. Sign-up begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Information Desk. This is a free program.

Sunday, June 4 and 18, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Getty Center, Central Garden

TOUR
Curator’s Gallery Tour

Julian Brooks, senior curator of drawings, leads a gallery tour of the exhibition. Meet under the stairs in the Entrance Hall. Sign-up begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Information Desk. Capacity limited. 

Tuesday, May 16, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 22, 2:30 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum galleries

FAMILY
Family Festival

Enjoy a day of celebration and discovery for the whole family inspired by magnificent historical scenes on view in the exhibition Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe, featuring performances, storytelling, and art-making workshops.

Saturday, June 3, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Getty Center

PUBLICATION

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