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Dreaming of Venus and the Sea Monster

A close look at Getty art in relief

A relief sculpture of a nude Venus, laying on the back of a sea monster. She strokes his beard. A putto draws his arrow to shoot her
Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto, 1787/88–1790, John Deare. Marble, 13 1/4 × 23 × 4 7/16 in. Getty Museum, 98.SA.4

  1. Tim Walker: Wonderful Things

    Exhibition

    A colorful scene of four models in a flower-filled landscape wearing voluminous garments of patterned silk.

    Photographs inspired by museum collections by internationally renowned fashion photographer, Tim Walker.

  2. Play and Pastimes in the Middle Ages

    Exhibition

    The word "PLAY" illustrated by medieval manuscript illustrations set against a yellow background.

    Discover what manuscripts reveal about the role of games, leisure, and entertainment in medieval life.

Highlights from Getty’s Collection

Middle-aged man stands against a wall, wearing a white collared shirt and dark tie. He's looking to the lower left.

Artist Anthony Barboza took this photo of writer James Baldwin, who advocated for LGBTQ rights and civil rights.

Closeup of Kate Millett leaning on her hand and looking into the camera.

Cynthia MacAdams photographed feminist author Kate Millet, who wrote Sexual Politics in 1970, and advocated for equality.

Jean Cocteau is holding an empty picture frame up to his face. He is wearing a suit and tie, and is looking slightly to the right of the viewer.

Jean Cocteau met artist Man Ray in late 1921 and became one of his first portrait subjects in Paris.

Audre Lourde sits writing at a desk in an office with a full bookcase and stacks of paper all around.

Feminist photographer Joan E. Biren captured lesbian writer, poet, and activist Audre Lorde.

Collections

Art and archives from antiquity to now

  1. Art Collection

    A lion bites savagely into the back of an onager—an Asian wild ass—that lies on the ground.
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  2. Research Collections

    A line engraving of one large and one small chrysanthemum in bloom amidst several leaves and with Latin writing in the upper corners.
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Featured Stories

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  3. Should Anne of Brittany Have Her Own HBO Drama?

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  5. Bringing Ocean to Land

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    An Impressionist still life scene of a table with various pottery and a bowl of apples set against a blue background and blue patterned tablecloth.

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Art Resources

  1. Podcasts

    An episode of Getty podcast Recording Artists: Radical Women plays on an iPhone.

    Wide-ranging conversations about art featuring Getty experts

    See all podcasts

  2. K–12 Teaching

    Several elementary school children sit cross-legged on the floor of a gallery at the Getty Center looking towards a teacher who is not in frame.

    Share art, history, and culture with your class on a visit to the Center or Villa

  3. Art Activities for Kids

    Seated at a table, a woman folds paper while the child sitting next to her wears a costume made from construction paper and other materials.

    Fun, educational ways to explore art with kids at home or at Getty

    See art activities

Featured Publications