The Getty Center is my favorite place in Los Angeles to unwind. I like to stroll around the corridors, in between modern buildings housing century-old paintings. Hello Mr. Monet, Mr. Van Gogh, Mr. Rembrandt, Mr. El Greco. How are you doing today? Tell me a story, make me cry, make me laugh as I sit here at this bench. We have plenty of time to talk, you and I.
Later, before I leave, we could have some fancy desserts at the restaurant or just grab a coffee at the café, or a drink at the bar. Do you drink Mr. Monet? I love your paintings by the way. I’ve been at the Gare Saint-Lazare, where one can take the train to your house. I must confess I fell in love with you at The Getty Center. No, I’m not kidding. First time I saw your painting of the Rouen Cathedral, I fell in love, love at first sight. I felt I had been at the cathedral the day you painted it. It brought back childhood memories, even though I had never been there before, but I grew up in a cloudy gray city with old cathedrals. I could almost feel the fog, the cold, discern the details of the old church as I get closer, but the closer I get to the painting, the farther away it feels, the more distorted, like a dream.
Interesting Fact
The Getty Center is clad in 1.2 million square feet of Italian travertine that comes from the same quarry near Rome that supplied the Colosseum. Architect Richard Meier had some blocks cut in a way that they would show embedded fossils.
Mr. Van Gogh, if you knew how popular your paintings are now! No, they are not worth pennies, they’re worth millions! Each of them! Irises sold for $53.9 million in 1987. It’s estimated to be worth between $200 and $300 million now.
The sculptures, the furniture of queens and kings, the silver plates, the old clocks take me back in time, to a time of dreams and luxury like no other. Beautiful pieces made by masters who took pride in their work. But it was also a sad time. Imagine no running water, no anesthesia, no real laws to protect the people. These pieces have seen all these changes and felt them too. They served their original owners hosting lavish parties together, and now they sit in quiet rooms.
Interesting Fact
J Paul Getty never set foot in the Getty Center. He died in 1976. The Center opened in 1997. Admission to the museum is free (you only pay for parking). This is part of Getty’s will, which stipulated his trust be used “for the diffusion of artistic and general knowledge.”
How is the gift shop? The Getty Center has more than one gift shop, so I always end up buying something because there’s always something cute I think I need, a scarf, a can of tea, a ruler, a ring, a book, of course a book.
Let’s have some drinks before I head back to the tram and down the hill as the sun sets. Santé, M. Monet!
Oh, I almost forgot about the main garden! That’s a good place for a picture, lots of colors! The garden itself is a piece of art that we can step in. Come on, let’s go!
Interesting Fact
The Getty Center is earthquake proof. The buildings sit on giant ball-bearing-like devices that let the structures shift independently of the ground during an earthquake.
Notice: The Getty Center is getting a face-lift. It will be closed for a year starting March 2027. It’ll reopen in March 2028. the Getty Villa will remain open.
The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Leave a Reply