Message from Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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.
Editorial by Citysearch
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
Key Points
- Raphael, Rubens and Rembrandt
- Music performances
- Educational tours
The Inside Scoop
- Save Money - $12; $10 seniors; $5 students ($3 college students, Wednesday); members and children under 18 free. All named "Isabella" admitted free. $2 off admission for visitors wearing Red Sox paraphernalia.
- Know Before You Go - John Singer Sargent's portrait of Mrs. Gardner was judged so scandalous that it was withdrawn from public view until after her death.
- The Extras - On the third Thursday of every month from 5pm-9pm, the museum hosts "Gardner After Hours," featuring live music and cocktails.
- One of Boston's Best - Nominated for the best spot Where Art Meets Love because it combines the art of sculpting, color and use of design with the romance of flowers and the ambrosial outdoors in a quietly amorous atmosphere.
- When to Go - Fridays at the Gardner feature free guided tours which begin at 2:30pm.
- The Extras - On the third Thursday of every month from 5:30pm-9:30pm, the museum hosts "Gardner After Hours," featuring live music and cocktails.
- Save Money - $12; $10 seniors; $5 students; members and children under 18 free. All named "Isabella" admitted free for life. $2 off admission for visitors wearing Red Sox paraphernalia.
- Hint - Travel upstairs and snag a bird's-eye-view of the garden from one of the many windows overlooking it.
Insider Pages Reviews for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Really cool museum. It's really cool to see what one woman has amassed as her own personal collection. The garden on the inside is amazing. The whole place is beautiful. Worth your time and money if you have a chance to go.
Posted 11/16/07 | Report Abuse
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The Isabella Stewart Gardner is such a great museum. People tend to think of museums as stodgy, but the Isabella Stewart Gardner has an element of fun to it. To begin with, if you're named Isabella, you get in free. The museum itself is built around a flower-filled courtyard, which goes a long way to dispelling the sterile atmosphere of a lot of museums. Even if you don't think you like art, go here for an afternoon. It's a beautiful space and a relaxing way to spend a day.
Posted 08/29/06 | Report Abuse
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Beautiful Art Gallery
by Anonymous
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a museum to delight all the senses. Located in the Fenway of Boston, MA. Isabella Stewart Gardner had opened up her house for the life of art and music one century back. The Gardner Museum has remained essentially unchanged since its founder's death in 1924. Unchanged but certainly not stagnant. Three floors of galleries surround a garden courtyard blooming with life in all seasons.
Posted 12/28/05 | Report Abuse
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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is stuffed with works of art collected by Isabella Stewart Gardner. The museum was her residence in the Fenway where she displayed her collection of art. In her will, she left the building and art work as a museum with the condition that everything stay in place. The center of the building has a delightful garden that is a peaceful place to rest and relax in between viewing the art.
Posted 11/06/05 | Report Abuse
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The Isabella Stewart Garnder Museum is a very beautiful museum they have some very nice paintings and sculptures and you can learn about the Isabella Stewart here. I enjoyed going here and lookign at the different types of exhibits they had set up.
Posted 10/31/05 | Report Abuse
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Hidden gem! This is a great museum one must see when in Boston. It is smaller than the MFA but has some great collections, particularly Italian Renaissance. Visitors will probably enjoy themselves more if they do some advance research on the collections before heading to the museum as there is not a lot of signage or explanations re: the pieces at the museum.
Posted 10/18/05 | Report Abuse
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Isabella Gardner's museum is a home museum. It is elegant and beautiful. The museum has been unchanges since Gardners' death. She filled her home with many beautiful works of arts. There are many courtyards to walk through which all display beautiful sculptures as well as flowers. There is always classical music filling the air as well. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11a.m. til 5 p.m. Adults: $10 ($11 on weekends) Prices to enter the museum are seniorsare $7, college students are $5 with current I.D. and children under 18 are admitted free with a parent or guardian
Posted 09/26/05 | Report Abuse
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This museum is a must-stop for any art lover in Boston. It's filled with a number of very famous works and is right next door to the MFA. One peculiarity, though, is the lack of signage beside each work, which drives some people nuts. Isabella Stewart Gardner purposely did this to encourage people to appreciate the art on its own. There's no presumption that their signs are right and that your own reactions to the art are wrong. This is a great place to spend a weekend day, especially on a date.
Posted 09/21/05 | Report Abuse
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I was slightly disappointed with this museum. I had heard a lot of great things about it but I found it lacking. My recommendation to make this visit worth-while is to read up on the museum and the history before you go. I found that I didnt enjoy myself because I didnt know what anything was about. It would help if they gave you a booklet of what everything is and why it is important. It is an extremely beautiful place though, and if you enjoy beautiful gardens you shouldnt miss it.
PROS: Price is ok, beautiful garden in the center
CONS: Not a lot of things explained, get a guided tour maybe, if you can
Posted 08/26/05 | Report Abuse
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This museum is very special. The architecture is wonderful and the Italian Renaissance paintings are great. I especially enjoyed their paintings by Botticelli,Raphael,Uccello,Bonifazio Veronese,and Domenico Tintoretto.I also appreciated their Netherlandish works by Rembrandt,Rubens,and Terborch. Other artists whose works I admired were by Anders Zorn and John Singer Sargent. I would like this museum to label all its paintings and tell us viewers more information about its paintings and the artists who did them.
Posted 07/29/05 | Report Abuse
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The Isabella Stuart Gardner museum is impressive on so many levels. First there is the collection, which is outstanding. It includes not only paintings, drawings and crafts but furniture and even architecture. The building itself is a work of art, and the setup of the museum is more like a mansion than a museum. True, the fee is high, but it's free if you're named Isabella! Plus it's truly worth it. A very unique experience. Nice prints in the gift shop.
Posted 07/25/05 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
sanctuary & artistic retreat extraordinaire
by Raina413
When you want to look at art & surround yourself in beauty but don't have the energy to do a full day walking around a museum, taking on multiple galleries, rest easy at the Gardner. Each room is an inspiraton and loaded with gorgeous and spectacular paintings, anitiques and relics that appeal to the eye but at the same time you won't be overwhelmed. Even if you just want to sit overlooking the courtyard garden the entire time you're here, it is time wellspent.
Pros: any day here is a happy one
Cons: can't think of any
Posted 04/16/09
Everbody that lives in MA should visit this museum at least once!
by Brokerinbeantown
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has always been a favorite of mine since I first discovered it in the eighties. The building's architecture is just as impressive s the artwork itself. I love the multi levels and the views of the landscaped courtyard. This is a great place to spend a rainy day.
Posted 10/06/07
A women with class!!
by cinortiz15
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of the best museums I have been in a long time, its beauty and ambience is exquisite!
Posted 11/05/02
Not your typical museum
by jane_doe2
This isn't a place to roam halls and marvel at the exhibitions. It is a place to go and absorb the ambiance and the feeling that you are visiting a slice of heaven. There's something very peaceful and unique about this museum and it's on my list of must-see again if I ever return to Boston.
Pros: Overall atmosphere, Serene + stimulating, Breathtaking courtyar
Cons: Little pricy
Posted 08/02/02