Google Art Project now holds 30,000 works of digital art
If you're looking to see some of the world's best art in high-definition but your travel budget is a bit tight, the Google Art Project just got a whole lot more enticing.
Although it doesn't receive as much attention as some other Google products, this creative endeavor might be one of the best examples of Google's famous motto, "Don't Be Evil" as the Art Project really does offer a lovely cultural opportunity online to everyone with access to the Internet.
Intended to bring some of the greatest works of art directly to your computer, the original Art Project launched last year with partnerships with 17 museums in nine countries and 1,000 images.
The collection has gradually expanded, and today, Google bumped that number up to 30,000 high-resolution images.
Amit Sood, head of the Google Art Project, explained on the official Google blog how interest in the Art Project grew:
Since we introduced the Art Project last year, curators, artists and viewers from all over the globe have offered exciting ideas about how to enhance the experience of collecting, sharing and discovering art. Institutions worldwide asked to join the project, urging us to increase the diversity of artworks displayed.
Starting off with mainly Western art, the Google Art Project now displays works from 151 museums in 40 countries, ranging from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. A full list of the collections can be found online.
Along with more art to gaze at, Google has also implemented the following enhancements to the platform:
- Better quality Street View images of more than 385 rooms within the museums
- 46 artworks available with "gigapixel" photo-capturing, super high-res technology
- A personalized gallery feature where you can store copies of your favorite paintings
Naturally, there is also Google+ and Hangouts integration.
For a closer and quick look at the Google Art Project, check out the promo clip below:
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