Aphrodite and the Gods of Love. March 28th, 2012 - July 9, 2012, the Getty Villa

The original exhibition has now moved from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to the Getty Villa

Editor's note: Kytherian's in Southern California have already arranged to undertake a group visit to the Exhibition

Typically associated with love, beauty and sex, the Greek goddess Aphrodite was a much more complex figure.

Not only could she be manipulative and destructive in matters of the heart, especially together with her companion Eros, but her domain extended far beyond desire and romance. Worshipped throughout the ancient Mediterranean by men and women, young and old, Aphrodite was connected with maritime affairs, civic harmony, and even warfare.

This exhibition presents the goddess in her manifold aspects—exploring her precursors in the ancient Near East, her offspring, and her devotees—and culminates with her incorporation and adaptation in Roman religion as Venus. It features a stunning range of objects, from large-scale sculpture to delicate jewelry, drawn from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the J. Paul Getty Museum, as well as major loans from Italian institutions.

Aphrodite and the Gods of Love was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in association with the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Banner image: Venus (The Venus of Capua) (detail), Roman, A.D. 117–138; found in Capua, Italy. Marble, 87 in. high. Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli. Image © www.pedicinimages.com

Statue image: Aphrodite Spanking Eros, Greek, 200–1 B.C. Bronze, 11 5/16 in. high. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 57.AB.7


About the J. Paul Getty Museum

Mission Statement

The J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to further knowledge of the visual arts and to nurture critical seeing by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of the highest quality. To fulfill its mission, the Museum continues to develop its collection through purchase and gifts, complementing its impact through special exhibitions, publications, educational programs developed for a wide range of audiences, and a related performing arts program.

The Museum strives to provide its visitors with access to the most innovative research in the visual arts while they enjoy a unique experience in viewing works of art at our Getty Center and Getty Villa sites. While benefiting from the broader context of the Getty Trust, the Museum also extends the reach of its mission via the internet and through the regular exchange of works of art, staff, and expertise.

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs.

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa in Malibu opened on January 28, 2006, after the completion of a major renovation project. As a museum and educational center dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria, the Getty Villa serves a varied audience through exhibitions, conservation, scholarship, research, and public programs. The Villa houses approximately 44,000 works of art from the Museum's extensive collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities, of which over 1,200 are on view.

With two locations, the Getty Villa in Malibu and the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the J. Paul Getty Museum serves a wide variety of audiences through its expanded range of exhibitions and programming in the visual arts.

Senior Staff

Timothy Potts, Incoming Director
Thomas Kren, Acting Associate Director for Collections
John Giurini, Assistant Director for Public Affairs
Quincy Houghton, Associate Director for Exhibitions and Public Programs
Toby Tannenbaum, Assistant Director for Education

Get information about visiting the Getty Villa

The Getty Villa in Malibu is an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.

Address

17985 Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Palisades, California 90272

Please note that access to the Getty Villa entrance is only from the northbound right-hand lane of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).

Phone Number
(310) 440-7300

See hours, directions, parking for directions.

Admission is Free

Admission to the Getty Villa is always FREE; an advance, timed-entry ticket is required. Parking is $15.

For tips on receiving and printing tickets to the Getty Villa, see frequently asked questions.

What to See

• Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities arranged by themes including Gods and Goddesses, Dionysos and the Theater, and Stories of the Trojan War
•Roman-inspired architecture and gardens

History of the Getty Villa

This film describes the history, collections, and setting of the Getty Villa.

Public Transportation

Get to the Getty Villa via public transport! The Getty Villa is served by Metro Bus 534, which stops at Coastline Drive and Pacific Coast Highway directly across from the Getty Villa entrance. To find the route that is best for you, call 323-GO-METRO (323-466-3876) or use the Trip Planner on www.metro.net, the Web site of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (Please note that passengers riding the bus to visit the Getty Villa must have their Villa admission ticket hole-punched by the driver before exiting the bus.)

See suggested bus and rail routes to the Getty Villa.

L.A. Metro Bus and Metro Rail Map (874 KB):

Metro_Bus_&_Metro_Rail_System_Map.pdf

Parking

On-site parking is available for all ticket holders and is $15 per car or motorcycle, but $10 per car or motorcycle after 5:00 p.m. for all evening public programming, including theater, music, film, lectures, and other special programs held after 5:00 p.m.

Visitors to the Getty Villa are not permitted to park anywhere other than the Getty Villa as a condition of the Conditional Use Permit issued by the City of Los Angeles.

No pedestrians may enter the Villa except for ticket holders arriving by public transportation. Passengers must have their Villa admission ticket hole-punched by the driver before exiting the bus in order to enter the Villa.

For more parking information, see hours, directions, parking and frequently asked questions.

Opening Hours

Hours for the Getty Villa site and galleries:

Monday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Tuesday

CLOSED

Wednesday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Thursday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Friday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Saturday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Sunday

10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Closed Tuesdays and on January 1, July 4 (Independence Day), Thanksgiving, and December 25 (Christmas Day).

Group Visits

Groups are welcome! For information on reservations, parking, dining options, and free tours and activities, please see tips for groups

Event Calendar

For exhibitions and events including performances, lectures, and free family programs, check the event calendar

Accessibility

The Getty Villa is ADA accessible. See more in accessibility.

En Español

Información en español para planificar su visita.