Google has expanded and enhanced the Google Art Project, which now includes more than 30,000 artworks from the galleries of the world's museums and beyond. The collection now includes South African rock designs, Brazilian street graffiti and Australian aboriginal art, as well as painting, sculptures and photographs from 151 museums in 40 countries.

When Google started the project last year, the 1,000 artworks featured were mainly by Western masters, but the new, extended project includes art from a much greater variety of periods, styles, cultures and mediums.

“The Art Project is no longer just about the Indian student wanting to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is now also about the American student wanting to visit the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi,” said Amit Sood from the Google Art Project. New tools on the site allow more options for creating and sharing personal galleries, the street view images are improved, making the virtual stroll around museums a less bumpy ride and some super high resolution images are now available.

“We now have 46 artworks available with our “gigapixel” photo capturing technology, photographed in extraordinary detail using super high resolution, so you can study details of the brushwork and patina that would be impossible to see with the naked eye,” said Amit Sood.

According to Google, since the introduction of the art project, artists, curators and users from around the world have contributed and suggested new ideas. The expansion is a response to this feedback and Google's people appear happy with the results. “We’re delighted to have created a convenient, fun way to interact with art—a platform that we hope appeals to students, aspiring artists and connoisseurs alike.” The extended Google Art Project was officially launched earlier this week at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com