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    Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville

    November 19, 2014–August 17, 2015

    Getty Villa

    Mercury (detail), Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

    Mercury (detail), Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

  • Mercury, Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

    Mercury, Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

  • Video: The Making of A Roman Silver Cup

  • Cup with Centaurs (detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

    Cup with Centaurs (detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

  • Offering Bowl with Bacchus, Hercules, and Coins (detail), Roman, about A.D. 210; gold

    Offering Bowl with Bacchus, Hercules, and Coins (The Patera of Rennes) (detail), Roman, about A.D. 210; gold, The drinking contest between Bacchus and Hercules

  • Offering Bowl with Bacchus, Hercules, and Coins, Roman, about A.D. 210; gold

    Offering Bowl with Bacchus, Hercules, and Coins (The Patera of Rennes), Roman, about A.D. 210; gold

  • Cameo of Jupiter (The Cameo of Chartres), Roman, about A.D. 50; Sardonyx set in a fourteenth-century gold and enamel mount

    Cameo of Jupiter (The Cameo of Chartres), Roman, about A.D. 50; Sardonyx set in a fourteenth-century gold and enamel mount

  • Perfume Flask with the Seasons, Roman, 25 B.C.-A.D. 50; cameo glass with a modern resin neck and enameled metal foot

    Perfume Flask with the Seasons, Roman, 25 B.C.-A.D. 50; cameo glass with a modern resin neck and enameled metal foot. Spring, with a basket of fruit; Summer, holding wheat and poppies; Autumn, with grapes and pomegranates

  • Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War (detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

    Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War (detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold. The death of Achilles

  • Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War, Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

    Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War, Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold. Achilles dragging the body of Hector around the walls of Troy

  • Coin of the Emperor Hadrian, minted in Rome, A.D. 134-38; gold

    Coin of the Emperor Hadrian, minted in Rome, A.D. 134-38; gold

  • Plate with Hercules Wrestling the Nemean Lion (detail), Roman, A.D. 500-600; silver

    Plate with Hercules Wrestling the Nemean Lion (detail), Roman, A.D. 500-600; silver

  • Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth, Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

    Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth, Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold. Poseidon (Neptune) and Demeter (Ceres)

  • Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth (rollout detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

    Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth (rollout detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold

  • Cameo of Emperor Trajan, Roman, about A.D. 100; sardonyx set in a seventeeth-century gold, enamel, and ruby mount

    Cameo of Emperor Trajan, Roman, about A.D. 100; sardonyx set in a seventeeth-century gold, enamel, and ruby mount

  • Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury in a Rural Shrine (detail), Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

    Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury in a Rural Shrine (detail), Roman, A.D. 175-225; silver and gold

  • Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury and Maia or Rosmerta, Roman, A.D. 150-225; silver and gold

    Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury and Maia or Rosmerta, Roman, A.D. 150-225; silver and gold. Mid-conservation view showing the bowl partially cleaned

  • The Roman silver treasure dedicated to Mercury, found at Berthouville in 1830

    The Roman silver treasure dedicated to Mercury, found at Berthouville in 1830

Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville

November 19, 2014–August 17, 2015, Getty Villa

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Accidentally discovered by a French farmer in 1830, the spectacular hoard of gilt-silver statuettes and vessels known as the Berthouville Treasure was originally dedicated to the Gallo-Roman god Mercury. Following four years of meticulous conservation and research at the Getty Villa, this exhibition allows viewers to appreciate their full splendor and offers new insights about ancient art, technology, religion, and cultural interaction.

The opulent cache is presented in its entirety for the first time outside Paris, together with precious gems, jewelry, and other Roman luxury objects from the royal collections of the Cabinet des Médailles at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

This exhibition was organized by the J. Paul Getty Museum in collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. Generous support was provided by the Getty Museum's Villa Council.

All images courtesy of Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris

Related Events

A variety of special programs complement the exhibition. All events are free, unless otherwise noted. Admission to the Getty Villa and to the exhibition is FREE; an advance, timed-entry ticket is required for general admission. For reservations and information, call (310) 440-7300 or see information on planning a visit.

Lecture
A Roman Temple Treasure

Unearthed by a farmer in 1830, a spectacular hoard dedicated to Mercury in northern France contains some of the finest Roman silver to survive from classical antiquity. Kenneth Lapatin, curator of the exhibition Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville, examines this rare votive deposit and what it reveals about religion, culture, and technology. Free; a ticket is required.

Learn more about this lecture and get tickets.

Thursday, April 16, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Gifts for the Gods: The Art of Devotion in Roman Gaul

Art historian Kimberly Cassibry of Wellesley College considers the mysterious origins of Gallic gods, their varied pairings with Greek and Roman counterparts, and the dedications that ensured their survival. Such inscribed gifts, ranging from column monuments dedicated to Jupiter to silver treasure offered to Mercury at Berthouville, offer new perspectives of the multi-cultural Roman Empire in ancient France. Free; a ticket is required.

Learn more about this lecture and get tickets.

Saturday, May 30, 2015, 2:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

The Mildenhall Treasure: Fine Dining in Roman Britain

The Mildenhall Treasure is the only set of Roman silver tableware to survive from Roman Britain. Richard Hobbs of the British Museum discusses its intriguing discovery at the height of World War II, its Bacchic decoration, and its burial during the final decades of Rome's control of Britain. Free; a ticket is required.

Learn more about this lecture and buy tickets.

Sunday, June 7, 2015, 2:00 p.m.
Getty Villa, Auditorium

Studio Course
Metal Embossing and Repoussé Workshop

Artist Elmira Adamian leads this introductory-level workshop on the metalworking techniques of embossing and repoussé, the art of creating relief sculpture on a sheet of metal. Tour the exhibition Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville, which features some of the finest examples of ancient Roman silver sculpted in relief. In the studio, create your own low-relief decorations on malleable metal sheets.

Learn more about this program and buy tickets.

Sunday, May 31, 2015, 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Getty Villa, Meeting rooms and Museum galleries

Gallery Course
Lifestyles of the Rich and Roman

Travel back 2,000 years with educator Shelby Brown to appreciate the self-indulgent practices, delicate arts, and elaborate architecture of wealthy Romans. Our models are the Getty Villa itself, a copy of an elite Roman mansion, objects from the Villa's collection, and the exhibition. Course fee $35. Complimentary parking.

Sunday, December 7, 2014, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Getty Villa: Meeting Rooms

Culinary Workshop
Feasts and Opulence in Roman Gaul

Join museum educator and chef Nancy DeLucia Real to explore the art, culture and religion of Roman Gaul (modern-day France) in a hands-on historical cooking class. Participants view lavish silver artifacts in the exhibition, visit the Herb Garden, then prepare recipes inspired by Gallo-Romanic cuisine and ancient opulence. Open to 20 participants. Course fee $85. Complimentary parking.

Thursday, December 4, 2014, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Course repeats Friday, December 5, 2014.
Getty Villa: Meeting Rooms and Museum galleries

Talks
Curator’s Gallery Talks

Kenneth Lapatin, associate curator of antiquities, the J. Paul Getty Museum, leads a gallery talk on the exhibition. Sign-up begins 15 minutes before the tour at the Tour Meeting Place.

Thursdays, December 18, 2014 and February 5 and 30, 2015, 3:00 p.m.
Mondays, January 12 and March 30, 2015, 3:00 p.m.
Getty Villa: Museum galleries

VIDEO

The Making of a Roman Silver Cup

Learn how an ancient Roman silver cup was made in this short video.

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