An eclectic and inspiring collection of art and artefacts donated to the city by a noted philanthropist is housed in this magnificent mansion.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was a well-known Boston socialite, fervent art collector and enthusiastic cultural patron. This magnificent Italianate mansion was her gift to the city in 1903, as a place to house her wide-ranging collection of priceless artworks and cultural treasures from around the world.The collection is still displayed according to Gardner’s carefully themed plans. Visitors can admire the Yellow Room, the Spanish Cloister and the Little Salon, among others. Some of the rooms have empty picture frames, a stark reminder of the notorious art heist of 1990 that robbed the collection of some of its finest paintings, the whereabouts of which remain a mystery. Luckily the museum still owns masterpieces by Matisse, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Degas and Titian, as well as a portrait of Gardner herself by the famous American Pre-Raphaelite John Singer Sargent.The museum building itself is well worth a closer look in its own right. Taking its inspiration from Venetian Renaissance palaces, its opulent rooms are arranged around a tranquil central courtyard filled with trees and flowering plants. A modern wing, completed in 2012, houses some of the overflow from the museum’s burgeoning collection along with rooms for special events such as concerts by local and visiting musicians, horticultural classes, education programmes and symposiums.Even the on-site café has Gardner’s personal touch, with a menu based around her own recipes, allowing visitors to sample the authentic flavours of old Boston.The museum is in the Fenway-Kenmore neighbourhood and is open every day except Tuesdays and some public holidays. Another charming touch worthy of the great philanthropist herself is that the modest entrance fee is waived for anyone whose name is Isabella!
