The J. Paul Getty Museum Handbook of the Collections

This guide is a satisfactory companion to any visit to the Getty Center in L.A., with many colored illustrations of the major works in the museum's collection, grouped by department (decorative art, drawings, paintings, prints, etc..)with a short and informative text. Just a few illustrated works from the collection: Renoir's La Promenade, Degas's Waiting (a quintessential dancer painting) Van Gogh's Irises, Goya's The Marquesa de Santiago, Rembrandt's Old Man in Military Costume, some major pieces of French XVIIIth century furniture (by BVRB, Dubois, Oeben, Martin Carlin), drawings by Holbein, Rembrandt, Rubens, Watteau, and many sculptures and works of art (silverware, porcelain, clocks, etc). However, I have to add that the main shortcoming of this guide is the fact that it may become outdated very soon, as the Getty is famous for its consequent acquisition budget and keeps buying new works regularly. I, myself, already bought three editions of this guide in about ten years...