The Luwian Studies Foundation’s lecture series, which began last year, came to a temporary conclusion on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, with a lecture by Dr. Jeffrey Spier on “J. Paul Getty and the Construction of the Villa.” Dr. Spier, who served as curator of the Getty Villa for nearly two decades, provided insights into the history of the building, which was modeled after the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum and now houses the Getty Museum’s collection of antiquities. J. Paul Getty left the United States in 1951 and oversaw the construction of the villa from his new home in England. It was not until 1974 that the villa was opened to the public as a museum – a building that Getty himself never entered.
The invited guests, including representatives of the Swiss art and cultural scene, enjoyed the detailed insights into the life and work of the oil magnate and founder of one of the world’s richest museums.