Staff at the Getty Museum have come up with a novel way to engage with their visitors during the ongoing pandemic – by asking them to recreate famous works of art at home.

With around a third of the world's global population under movement restrictions related to COVID-19, the Los Angeles-based museum, which closed on 14 March, gave at-home art fans something different to enjoy.

"We challenge you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home," the museum tweeted.

We challenge you to recreate a work of art with objects (and people) in your home.

Choose your favorite artwork

Find three things lying around your house⠀ Recreate the artwork with those items

And share with us. pic.twitter.com/9BNq35HY2V

— Getty (@GettyMuseum) March 25, 2020

The idea has proved a huge success, with people from around the world recreating works at home, with the images being shared thousands of times.

Madonna and child.https://t.co/ZbnVeToUPE pic.twitter.com/7Vkl91CF6D

— Getty (@GettyMuseum) March 25, 2020

The museum set three simple rules for the challenge, find three things in the house pick your favourite work of art and recreate the piece using those items.

The three food groups: canned tuna, cheese, and olive oil.https://t.co/DErWcO2Kbe pic.twitter.com/vPv8VM5ZVG

— Getty (@GettyMuseum) March 25, 2020

Not only providing a source of entertainment for its stuck-at-home followers, the exercise is also educational, with Getty is providing a link to each of the recreated works so visitors can look at the original piece, as well as learn about its history.

"Triple Self Portrait" by Norman Rockwell pic.twitter.com/LEr2e2bl7x

— Robert Etheredge (@BobEtheredge) March 28, 2020

"The Getty Center and Getty Villa are closed to the public and most staff until further notice as the region works to minimize the spread of coronavirus," said a statement from the museum.

"For digital resources and programming during the closure, connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and sign up for updates from our blog."