Getty Museum Opens Exhibit About Name Sake, Malibu Resident

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The J. Paul Getty Museum this week opened a permanent exhibit about the life of its founder and namesake, the oil man whose decades-long love of art-collecting led to the creation of one of the world's largest cultural and philanthropic foundations.

"Through his generosity, J. Paul Getty had a vast and far-reaching impact on the worlds of art, culture and philanthropy," Timothy Potts, director of the museum. "With 'J. Paul Getty Life and Legacy,' we explore the background and achievements of this fascinating man, and highlight the extend of his influence on the visual arts and cultural heritage around the world.

"More than 2 million visitors come to the Getty each year and many of them ask questions about who he was and what he accomplished. This installation will tell that story," Potts said.

The exhibit includes photographs, videos and other archival materials, along with several objects that Getty personally collected.

Getty began collecting art in the 1930s, and converted his Malibu ranch house into a museum in the 1950s. When he died in 1976, Getty left almost his entire fortune to the museum, managed by the J. Paul Getty Trust. The trust now oversees the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, Getty Conservation Institute and Getty Foundation.

-- City News Service, photo via Jelson25/Wiki Common