LOS ANGELES, CA.- The J. Paul Getty Museum announced today the acquisition of The Italian Comedians (ca. 1720) by Jean-Antoine Watteau (French, 16841721). The large oil painting (50 7/8 x 36 3/4) was painted at the height of Watteaus fame, shortly before his early death at age 36. This major, little-known painting is extraordinary. It shows Watteau at the height of his creative genius, said James Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Not only will it enhance our paintings collection, but it complements the Museums collection of French decorative arts, which is amongst the finest in the world. The Italian Comedians joins 18th century French paintings already in the Getty Museums collection by artists such as Nicolas Lancret (1690 1743), Jean-Honoré Fragonard (17321806), Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (16991779), and Claude-Joseph Vernet (17