I've been the Getty Villa many times as an adult and loved it each time. Similarly, as a child, I was taken to various places (like Hearst Castle) to enjoy diverse arts and antiquities. I can't help but think of the provenance of many of the objects collections like this now though, especially, in the case of the Getty Villa, those items that have been there since John Paul Getty first opened up what been more or less his private viewing room to the public. My understanding (based mostly on reading the brief informational signs in the Villa) is a great many of the items in this and similar institutions weren't excavated as part of research trips or recovery excavations but essentially flea market finds from randos, grave robbers, or from fellow rich people. So, often of uncertain provenance/completely unknown origin and stripped of context.

I know many art museums, including many now celebrated institutions, in the 19th century and before started essentially as viewing parlors for the ultra-rich before they started to open them up to the public (or in the case of the Louvre, were forced open by the public). And of course there's their contribution to outreach. But, in the modern era, are they... useful? Considering the way their items made their way into their collections.

Also, to be frank, I can't help but think of the worst examples of institutions like this the contemporary period, like when a certain ultra wealthy American Christian fundamentalist family got caught smuggling thousands of items out of war zones for their personal bible museum a few years ago. But I don't know if it's fair to lump examples like that in with the J. Paul Getty's of the world.

Thanks!