Ah, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. What a special place! My sister and I decided to spend Sunday morning here walking around the garden and through the rooms– basking in the warm temperature and the beautiful collection of history and art from around the world.
I love the story of this place. Here’s a quick timeline just in case you’re not familiar:
// Isabella was born in New York in 1840. When she was 20 she married John Gardner and the couple moved to Boston where they lived in Back Bay. Isabella and John liked to travel and enjoy art and Venice was a place they particularly loved and were inspired by. When Isabella’s father died he left her 1.6 million dollars. After this she began to collect and acquire art, totaling over the years to about 2,500 pieces. In 1896, Isabella and her husband made plans to create a museum, but before they began John Gardner died of a heart attack in 1898. Six weeks later Isabella bought a plot of land and hired an architect to begin building. The museum opened January 1, 1903 and has been standing gloriously ever since. Isabella died in 1924, but left the museum “for the education and enjoyment of the public forever.’’ She only requested in her Will that each of the galleries should remain exactly as she installed them.
It’s truly a place of magnificent wonder. Each of the rooms is so different and it’s always so awe inspiring to think that one person could collect so much amazing art! My favorite part of the museum is the courtyard {pictured above} and the story of the museum heist in 1990 where 13 pieces of art were stolen and to this very day never discovered.
Afterward, we had lunch at the museum cafe {a really great spot!} before heading back outside into the nice February sun. A fun way to spend a Sunday and a favorite place to visit, always.
I do love going there. It’s especially magical on a snowy day.
Yes! So light and bright and warm inside the courtyard. Love all the other rooms, too.
Wow. I love that they left the galleries exactly as she installed them. I think that’s a really nice tribute to her collection and memory.
Yes, I love that too. It is one of the only museums that has the entirety of their collection out all at once. Most have about 20% and rotate it out while the rest is in storage.
have you read The Art Forger? the story has to do with the heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner, and I thought it was a fun read. admittedly I’m a big fan of art museums and art already, but I thought it was interesting to learn a bit about the theft (although obviously parts of the story are fictional), as well as about the process involved in painting in the first place.
I have not read it, but I just looked it up and it looks really good! Will have to find it next time I’m at the bookstore. Thanks for the rec!
the most beautiful spot in the city, in my opinion!
The perfect winter oasis! Or summer relief spot!
That place looks absolutely stunning and what a cool history!
What gorgeous photos. I’ve always wanted to visit this museum, and now I want to even more. Thanks for sharing!