If you like touring museums and admiring priceless pieces of art that range from sculptures and mosaics, then the Getty Villa is the place for you. The Getty Villa is modeled after an ancient Roman court house and was constructed by architects who worked closely with J. Paul Getty in the early 1970s. The Getty Villa not only contains priceless pieces of art, but also features breathtaking gardens with reflecting pools, bronze sculptures, fountains, and many plants throughout. On February 22nd, Mrs. Degroff’s AP Art History students attended an invitational field trip to the beautiful Getty Villa.

I personally thought the Getty Villa itself was breathtaking due to its architectural structure of the building that follows the ancient Roman style. J. Paul Getty was an art connoisseur who collected pieces from throughout the world, which include up to 1,200 pieces that date back to 7,000 years from the end of the Stone Age to the fall of the Roman Empire. The exhibits are arranged by theme, including Greek Goddesses and Gods, Cycladic figures, pottery, and much more. J. Paul Getty’s private collection became open to the public when he died on June 6, 1976.

My favorite piece of artwork had to be Lansdowne Hercules. The sculpture depicts Hercules carrying a club over his left shoulder while holding a dead lion in his right hand. The Greeks depicted their heroes nude since they considered this to be the highest form of beauty and symbolic power.

Another piece of artwork that I enjoyed is the touch statue. This is a marble replica of Antonio Canova’s Venus, and it can be found at the far end of the garden, secluded in a corner away from sight. When you first walk into the Getty Villa, the first thing that comes to sight is the huge amphitheater that reminded me of the Colosseum. If you stand in one specific spot, you can hear in on people’s conversations without having to be close to them.

We got an hour to tour the entire Villa with our friends, which was pretty fun since we did not have adults around. Overall, it was very exciting to tour the many exhibits and gardens. Not only was this field trip very fun, but it was also very educational. So, if you are an art freak, make sure to visit the Getty Villa.