Great paintings challenge us to understand them, to penetrate their mysteries, and to appreciate their riches. But within the vast history of art, there exist only a small number of paintings that transcend the traditional role of art to become cultural signifiers—works that allow us to comprehend more deeply the world and our place within it.
This book is intended to introduce and guide visitors to the painting collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The collection includes Tuscan (Florentine and Sienese) paintings of the fifteenth century, Venetian works from the sixteenth century, and Dutch and Flemish paintings from the seventeenth century.