Art in Los Angeles

Saturday morning we drove to the Getty Center, which we had last visited two years ago. If the collection at LACMA is wonderful, there is no other word than magnificent to describe the Getty. Not only are there major art works—like the Los Angeles Country Museum has—but the architecture and setting is unparalleled by any other museum in the United States. Richard Meir’s grand design of the connected buildings, on its hill high above the city is incredible. Some of our favorite art works on this visit were masterpieces by Titian, Rembrandt, Monet and others. (See Jim’s pics of works by Van Gogh and Degas.) We also enjoyed a very leisurely lunch at the three-star restaurant. Jim had a halibut in a savory sauce and Dan enjoyed sweet potato ravioli served with spinach and wild mushrooms. The wild berry mousseline for dessert was in a rich chocolate sauce, and the accompanying wines—a Zinfandel and a Malbec---were first rate vintages from California vineyards. After we left the Getty, we drove to UCLA, where we visited the Armand Hammer Museum. Hammer’s personal collection contains great works by Gauguin, Sargent, Rembrandt, Daumier and others. (See pic of the Gauguin, called “Bonjour M. Gauguin.”) Then it was back to our Bread and Breakfast for a respite before heading to dinner.-Dan