Customer Message:
Isabella Stewart Gardner first welcomed visitors to her museum on New Year's Day, 1903. On that evening, guests listened to the music of Bach, Mozart and Schumann, gazed in wonder at the courtyard full of flowers and viewed one of the nation's finest collections of art.
Today, visitors experience much of the same thing. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged, but certainly not stagnant, since its founder's death in 1924. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons.
« hide add tags
- Tags:
- museums
A collection of works by European masters, housed in a Venetian palace, assembled by one of Boston's most remarkable figures. - Contributor
Study the famous Sargent portrait of Mrs. Gardner, museum namesake and locally renowned art patron--it conveys the sense, sensuality and force of character that led her to assemble her striking collection and the palace to house it, and to ensure in her will that no one could ever second-guess her. Besides the art, visit often for the music series, the flower-filled courtyard, the excellent cafe and programs with visiting artists. The art represents an impressive collection of Italian Renaissance (Titian, Botticelli) paintings as well as French, German and Dutch masters. One of Mrs. Gardner's well-represented favorites was Degas, and the museum owns the first Matisse to enter an American collection.
Photo by Christine Liu
Photo by Christine Liu
Date written: 10/04/06
The perfect spot for a romantic interlude or a hand-held stroll, this lush indoor garden stays constantly in bloom. - Contributor
The Scene
Modeled after the 15th century palaces of Venice, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's courtyard is lined on three sides with large archways complete with stone windowsills (posing as benches and front row garden seats). A black and white mosaic patio acts as the centerpiece and stone-fish-fountains, dirt pathways and verdant green plants make up the garden. A four-story glass ceiling successfully brings the outdoors inside.
What to Look for
Depending on the time of year, the garden displays many greeneries, including freesias, azaleas, hydrangeas, cape primrose, chrysanthemums, poinsettias and cyclamen.
Extras
The flowers are grown in the Museum's on-site greenhouses and are shown throughout the museum and in the courtyard. The only downside is that you can't actually walk through the courtyard; you can only admire from the periphery.
Modeled after the 15th century palaces of Venice, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum's courtyard is lined on three sides with large archways complete with stone windowsills (posing as benches and front row garden seats). A black and white mosaic patio acts as the centerpiece and stone-fish-fountains, dirt pathways and verdant green plants make up the garden. A four-story glass ceiling successfully brings the outdoors inside.
What to Look for
Depending on the time of year, the garden displays many greeneries, including freesias, azaleas, hydrangeas, cape primrose, chrysanthemums, poinsettias and cyclamen.
Extras
The flowers are grown in the Museum's on-site greenhouses and are shown throughout the museum and in the courtyard. The only downside is that you can't actually walk through the courtyard; you can only admire from the periphery.
Date written: 08/17/03
Certain business data provided by CitySearch
Is This Your Business?
Claim and edit Gardner Museum for free!
Newsletter
Get deals, coupons, and updates from Gardner Museum.
