People Are Making Art Recreations of Famous Paintings During COVID-19

People Are Still Recreating Artwork From Home for the ‘Getty Museum Challenge’

By Sara Barnes on August 4, 2020

My attempt at the Getty Museum Challenge – “Christina's World” by Andrew Wyeth from r/pics

The coronavirus quarantines restricted many of us from partaking in some of our most beloved recreational activities—including visiting art museums—but these lockdowns didn't stifle the creativity and ingenuity of people around the world. While many folks were stuck in their homes (and continue to, for the most part, stay home), they have found ways to entertain themselves while paying homage to some of the most iconic works in art history. The global project, known as the Getty Museum Challenge, has a simple premise: use everyday items around your home to recreate a work of art.

From donning fancy dresses to assembling fruit baskets, people proved they were up for the Getty Museum Challenge. The submissions, which can be made anytime by just sharing a photo online, highlight how art can really be made with anything. You just have to be on the lookout for it. One example of this is Redditor Isabella Beatrix and her recreation of Bartolomeo Vento’s 1515 painting titled Lucrezia Borgia. The original work of art features a figure with, among other features, very wavy and string-like locks. Beatrix recreates the hair using dried pasta noodles which, surprisingly, has the same look as the 16th-century painting.

Scroll down to admire more creativity shown in the Getty Museum Challenge. Want to see even more? Check out our other articles highlighting more amazing creations.

The Getty Museum Challenge was started at the beginning of the COVID-19 quarantine and continues as a creative way to celebrate art.

‘Lucrezia Borgia’ – Bartolomeo Veneto (1515 – adaptation of original) ‘Isabella Macaroni’ – Isabella Beatrix (2020): Hasta la pasta 🍝 from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

Tried my hand at the #GettyMuseumChallenge from r/pics

My husband & son recreated Ilya Repin’s “Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan” Getty Museum Challenge from r/pics

‘Bildnis Ana (Portrait of Ana)’- Kees Van Dongen (1906-11) ‘Bildnis Quarantine (Portrait of Quarantine) – Isabella Beatrix (2020) from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

‘In the Fullness of Summer’ – Delapoer Downing (1885-1902) ‘In the Fullness of a Pandemic’ – Isabella Beatrix (2020) from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

“Proserpine,” by Dante Gabriel Rossetti from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

The lady with an ermine and the lady with her ratcha from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

(Lady) ‘Emma Hamilton’- George Romney (c.1785) (Ladette) ‘Issie Looroll’ – Isabella Beatrix (2020) from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

Recreation of “Dr Samuel Johnson” by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1772/1775) from r/pics

‘Portrait of unknown man with the medal of Cosimo the Elder’ – Sandro Botticelli (c.1474) . . ‘Portrait of known woman(?) with a medal for NHS staff’- Isabella Beatrix (2020) from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

St. Veronica, 1633 – 1634 Jacques Blanchard from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

Boy with a Basket of Fruit – Caravaggio [OC] from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

‘Medea’ – Frederick Sandys (1868) ‘Maskea’ – Isabella Beatrix (2020) from r/GettyMuseumChallenge

Getty museum challenge: Safie by William Clarke Wontner from r/pics

‘Bust of Juliette Récamier’ – Joseph Chinard (1777 – 1849) ‘Bust of Isabella’ – Isabella Beatrix (2020) P.S. I’m aware my face shape sadly didn’t work for this one quite as well as I hoped! from r/GettyMuseumChallenge