77.000 images added to the Getty Open Content Program

The Getty Open Content Program received a huge boost in available content this week with the addition of 77.000 high-resolution images.
The images are free to download and use for any purpose and come from two of the most popular and often-used collections:

• Foto Arte Minore: Max Hutzel photographs of art and architecture in Italy (from Antiquity to late Baroque)
• Study Images of Tapestries: photographs of medieval and early modern tapestries from European and American collections, a rare visual resource for the study of often long-lost tapestries

The Getty started its Open Content Program in August 2013 (read more) with an admirable goal:

The Getty adopted the Open Content Program because we recognized the need to share images of works of art for free and without restriction, so that all those who create or appreciate art—scholars, artists, art lovers, and entrepreneurs—will have greater access to high-quality digital images for their studies and projects. Art inspires us, and imagination and creativity lead to artistic expressions that expand knowledge and understanding. The Getty sincerely hopes that people will use the open content images for a wide range of activities and that they will share the fruits of their labors with others.

More information on the Open Content Program is available here: the available content can be browsed via this page. The Getty expects to make more collections openly available through this program in the near future.