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Most Popular Paintings & Photos From Getty's Online Art Collection
You can now download high-res images of some of the world's most famous artworks for free, thanks to the Getty, including Van Gogh's "Irises" and paintings by Monet, Cezanne and more. Here are their 25 most popular paintings, photographs and drawings since the program went online in August.
The J. Paul Getty Museum and the Getty Research Institute have put more than 10,000 images online as part of its Open Content Program, with more being added all the time.
As they said in a press release:
The Getty adopted the Open Content Program because we recognized the need to share images of works of art for free and without restriction, so that all those who create or appreciate art—scholars, artists, art lovers, and entrepreneurs—will have greater access to high-quality digital images for their studies and projects. Art inspires us, and imagination and creativity lead to artistic expressions that expand knowledge and understanding. The Getty sincerely hopes that people will use the open content images for a wide range of activities and that they will share the fruits of their labors with others.
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"This project goes to the heart of the Getty’s mission to share its collections and research as widely as possible," said Getty President and CEO Jim Cuno. “We look forward to seeing the ingenious, creative and thoughtful ways these images are being used.”
"Irises," the most popular image, was painted by Van Gogh a year before his death in 1890 while he was at a French asylum. The Dutch artist said he believed he could keep himself from going insane by continuing to paint.
Originally purchased for 300 francs, it sold in 1987 for a then-record $53.9 million. In 1990, it was acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum for an undisclosed price.
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