The Facts
On September 17, 2026, the J. Paul Getty Museum announced the release of "Becoming Artsy, Episode 506," which traces the history of green pigments in art across nearly 2,000 years. The episode follows host Jessie as she visits the Getty Museum and the Getty Villa to examine pigments including verdigris, malachite, green earth, and copper resinate, used in medieval manuscripts and Renaissance paintings. Curator Larisa Grollemond and paintings conservator Ulrich Birkmaier discuss how these pigments have changed over time and their connections to nature, art, chemistry, and conservation.
The Signal
The episode reflects the Getty's broader strategy of using digital content to make art historical research accessible to a wide audience. For collectors and artists, the focus on green—a notoriously unstable and difficult pigment—highlights the importance of scientific analysis in understanding the original appearance and degradation of historical artworks. Such insights are increasingly relevant for private collectors and curators navigating material choices and conservation decisions in their own collections.
- People: Larisa Grollemond, Ulrich Birkmaier
- Museums: Getty Museum, Getty Villa
- Locations: Los Angeles
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