Amid the autumnal gathering of crops and families, the Getty Research Institute harvests its historical bounty preserving the culinary traditions and crafty presentations of our European ancestors for two exhibitions opening Oct. 13 at The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: Food in the Middle Ages and Renaissance (through Jan. 3) gleans illustrations from manuscripts that reveal rituals of cultivating, cooking and consuming. Elaborate concoctions for Renaissance fêtes are the centerpiece of The Edible Monument: The Art of Food for Festivals (through March 13), with prints and rare publications depicting the perishable masterpieces staged at court banquets and breaking down the savory tableau assembled in plazas and paraded through streets. To complement this convivial pairing, on Nov. 5 the public is invited to prepare and partake in celebratory repasts inspired by the feasts of yore.
