Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

By Jim Nguyen

Are you an art enthusiast, or do you simply want to explore a new place in the city of Boston? Then look no further, as the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum should be the next place on your Boston travel list!

Situated not far behind the grand Museum of Fine Arts and the residential campus of the Wentworth Institute of Technology, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was one of the first museums in Boston. Since the 15th-century Venetian palazzo (“palace” in Italian) doubled as Isabella’s home from the museum’s grand opening in 1903 to her death in 1924, it contains not only Isabella’s artwork collection, but also many of the things Isabella owned in her lifetime. When you step inside the museum, you get a real glimpse into Isabella’s world–including just how much of a die-hard Red Sox fan she was. Anyone who wears Red Sox apparel receives free admission, so be sure to wear your Red Sox jersey when you visit.

When you enter the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, you are greeted by the grandness of the courtyard. Isabella was correct in saying that the courtyard is “a place where human imagination can thrive.” The architecture in the courtyard is a combination of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Gothic styles. There are Greek statues, and the Roman sarcophaguses, which are in near-perfect condition and date back more than two thousand years ago. At the center of the courtyard is a peaceful garden. Although no visitors are allowed to step inside the courtyard garden, the view is magnificent. My personal favorite time to visit the museum is between mid-April to early May, when the flowers are in full bloom.

 

The Museum Courtyard from the ground, September 15th 2018 The Museum Courtyard from the balcony of the Titian Room, April 15th 2018

Surrounding the courtyard are fifteen themed galleries housing Isabella’s full personal artwork collection. Called “Rooms” (with the exception of the Spanish Cloister, the Chinese Loggia, and the Little Salon), the themed galleries in the museum were designed to complement the artists and their artwork on display in each one. For example, the Titian Room, home of Europa, was modeled after Isabella’s favorite place on Earth: Venice, Italy. The Dutch Room, in which Rembrandt’s stolen work Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee was located, spotlights Dutch artists and is designed like a house of a Dutch aristocrat.

The Dutch Room with an empty frame, symbolizing one of the thirteen stolen artifacts from 1990.

John Singer Sargeant’s El Jaleo (1882), currently on display at the Spanish Cloister of the Museum.

The Tapestry Room and the Long Room are two of the greatest attractions at the museum. Isabella’s extensive collection of tapestries (tapestry enthusiasts, take note) can be found in the Tapestry Room. The Long Room is known for the unique shade of Bardini blue on its walls, a color that was hand-picked by Isabella from her admiration of Stefano Bardini. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is the only museum outside of Florence, Italy to have the Bardini blue color on its walls. Along with the rare color, the Long Room also features Isabella’s collection of letters and writings from her idols at the time.

In addition to the great artwork, three paintings of Isabella are on display at the museum. Painted by her friend John Singer Sargeant, the paintings of Isabella portray her at different stages of her life, highlighting the woman and her vibrancy. I highly recommend a visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; there is much to see and enjoy.