Sometimes, the best things in life really are free: vintage video games, blueprints of contemporary architecture, and now, thanks to one of the world's foremost art institutions, some of the most valued images in history.
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As part of the Getty's ongoing endeavor to make art more accessible to the public, J. Paul Getty Trust President and CEO James Cuno announced on Tuesday that Getty would now be sharing over 250 Getty publications with the general public on its new online platform, the Virtual Library.
By visiting Getty's Virtual Library, users can view and download high-resolution copies of notable artistic publications from the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Research Institute, and the J. Paul Getty Museum absolutely free. Such publications include Cézanne in the Studio: Still Life in Watercolors and Painted Love: Prostitution in French Art of the Impressionist Era.
The Virtual Library comes off the heels of the Open Content Program, another free platform launched by the Getty last summer. With the Open Content Program, users can also access more the 9,000 Getty collection images at no cost.
Of course, the Getty is not the only institution that believes good art is worth sharing. The Guggenheim, LACMA, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and others have also created their own fine art sharing networks.
Visit the Getty online, to browse the Virtual Library.
