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Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
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Longwood Medical Area (Green)
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163 reviews for Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
What a pretty way to spend a dreary rainy Boston afternoon. I wish this place was my house. The architecture is like nothing else in Boston and the art collection is beautiful. I especially enjoyed the Gothic Room and the Veronese Room. Lots or red, varying shades of blue, and dark wood furniture all around. The paintings are an interesting mix, and they are complemented by lots of furniture and architectural pieces from different countries and eras. It was really interesting to see some of the hand-written letters, including one from George Washington.
It's a very pretty space. Just looking out onto the courtyard is like gazing at a piece of art.
A great museum! A great eclectic collection that is definately worth seeing. The cost to get in is $12 but only like $8 with a student ID. I used mine from California so that was cool.
I really enjoyed the art, especially the Spanish painting in the front hall. That was a great piece of work. Also, it was a great pleasure to read the many letters kept that were sent between Mrs. Gardner and her fans as well as other letters she had collected. Truly, a gem of a museum.
Unfortunately, unlike say, a restaurant review... i have little more to say on museums. However, i do have to criticize the "security". 1) the security staff looks like students so i hope they utilize other means to protect the collections. 2) There was one guard in one of the back rooms who i swear was about to jump on me when i took my cell phone out.
Security: "Are you using that for music?"
Me: "Excuse me?"
Security: "You're using that for music, right?"
Me: "Um, yea."
Security: "You can only use that for music. You can't surf the web, take photos, or text. Only music."
Me: "Um, ok..."
Some people i swear just need an excuse to assert their authority. I mean, i get the picture taking restriction. But honestly... internet? texting? What possible damage could that do to the items in the museum? Maybe i was texting their location to my super amazing crime sindicate so we can come in and steal them later on. But that seems quite elaborate compared to the other people who were just jotting down notes in their notebooks right next to me. Clearly, they posed less of a threat than my phone.
Nevertheless, a great museum and worth stoping at if you have a couple hours to spare.
This museum brings back very nostalgic memories for me, as I lived within (a long) walking distance of it during part of my college years. I remember attending wonderful chamber music concerts there on some Sunday afternoons; what a lovely setting for that! The courtyard is my absolute favorite part of the museum and it has a very European feel, plus it's also very relaxing. The collection is very eclectic - not only art, but also antique furniture - and it's rather fascinating to think that it was borne of one woman's passion. The café has good desserts and the shop has an interesting selection. I've been back there a few times over the years and it's always a pleasure.
The Gardner is a very special oasis!
I was amazed at this museum. I've been to my share of museums but this one evoked an inexplicable sense of peace and serenity. We only had about 45 minutes to walk through the entire museum but it was doable; reason being that it's a small, small museum. There are also no usual signs posted next to each and every piece of art and furniture in a room. Instead in the middle of most rooms you will find laminated pages to identify the pieces on each wall -- North Wall, West Wall, etc. There are only 4 floors, but visitors to the museum can only go to 3 since the topmost floor is used for offices. The top floor is also the floor that Mrs. Garden lived.
I was most interested in the first floor though. The first large painting that you see once you enter to your left is so well illuminated and so beautifully painted that it just jumps out at you like a moment in time. The colors are so vivid and the characters in the painting seem to be in motion, it is that mesmerizing. The garden, though it was closed when we were there, looked to be very peaceful and a great place to just forget about time. But the courtyard is what got me. It is amazing. That a place like this would be in Boston. This Venetian inspired architectural masterpiece bringing a moment's peace, a moment's quiet to your life as I'm sure it did many a time its past owner. To top things off this museum is more affordable than others in NY and SF for example -- admission is $12. If you arrive half an hour before close admission's free!
There are some things that would make this experience better -- if there were actual descriptions, explanations, or something more of all the art pieces in there instead of just names. I would've liked to know why Mrs. Isabella Gardner found such joy and such passion in these artworks compared to others, what these paintings meant historically and currently. Some information posted around about Mrs. Gardner herself would also have been helpful and given a foundation for understanding the mish-mash of artwork and her obsession with chairs. It's hard to imagine someone living like that, in a place that was essentially a museum from the start, but this place is truly amazing.
Third Thursdays at ISG... one of my favorite Boston evenings.
Live music in the courtyard, drinks, little games and mini-lectures tucked here and there. The space is so haunting at night, and whatever live music they have sets a very different feel for the evening. The music can be a little hit or miss (the Bhangra DJ was interesting but not quite right...), but in general the space goes really well with acousitcs.
They also have Sunday concerts during the day, but I haven't made it there yet for that. I'm still pretty new in town, but this place seems to be a Boston gem.
Opulent, Excessive, Beautiful, Overwhelming...
Just a few words to describe the feelings and thoughts that flowed through me during my trek in this amazing museum.
First of all, I almost passed it by - the outside is nothing to write home about - had no idea that it was actually the museum...but after paying our admission - we went into the first room to the left - and we were met with soft lighting, beautiful stonework around a window frame, lovely pieces of art and a breakfront filled with beautiful pottery.
I asked the security guard if they move him around to other parts of the museum - he said yes - and he was glad they did because he would go crazy being in just one place. We laughed that soon enough he would be able to sketch all the paintings in the museum.
They offered an audio tour but I felt it disconnected me to the sounds of the museum and the joy of hearing people sigh and mumble to themselves.
First of all, I feel that museums is like the Opera to my eyes. So I wore a black skirt, flowing flowered -off the shoulder top, printed hose and black kitten heels. I was the only one dressed up. I felt grown up and classy. I felt as if I were paying homage to the elegance that all museums have. And I was somewhat offended that others didn't think that it deserved their best. But that is my feelings...
Walking through this grand palace situated on a street that faces the "muddy river" was surreal.
Hearing the sound of my heels as I walked through each room, down each corridor, through each entryway, up each flight of stairs and stopping front of each piece of artwork was solemn.
It is something to be in a room filled with things that someone else has found to be beautiful and looking deeply into the eyes of a portrait to find the link between you and the person who the artwork belongs to.
I enjoyed seeing all the things that she accumulated in her time abroad - and I realized that if she were alive right now, they would call her "a crazy horder".
I sat looking into the courtyard for most of the time, gazing at the shapes of the windows, the bumpy glass panes, the slight pink that was added to the walls of the courtyard that made them look like pink marble and wondering how in the world a WOMAN was able to pull this all off. She must have been some woman.
I was familiar with the theft that had happened - knew about the works of art that were kidnapped from their home on the walls of this amazing museum. I was able to see the places that were left open where they were hung and felt a sense of loss.
Each room is dimly lit, so it takes time and effort to see the beauty on the walls, on the tables, in the cases, on the ground, on the ceiling. Take your time, don't rush, re-visit the works that touch you - it is well worth $12.
The only thing that I missed about it was - that I couldn't take pictures of the few things that made my heart jump and the feeling of the breath being pulled out of my lungs...a saucer and cup in the shape of a flower, a blue tapestry hanging on the wall....Enjoy...
The Isabella, as I like to refer to her, is an amazing experience for any art lover, architecture admirer, historian, or romantic, looking for a great date, whether on a good one, or even, alone.
First off, the building is an Italianate palazzo replica, with an incredible central atrium garden, rising to the height of the structure, with the light streaming in through sky lights; it is located right off the entrance. It is breath taking, in any season.
The Gardner collection was amassed by one woman with a vision. She collected an array of art from many centuries, lead by a few of the world's art authorities, but mostly Renaissance and Asian, displayed and hung the art the way she wanted it- and it is a sight to see. Nothing has been adapted since she first opened the Museum, as that was her will. I have to admire this woman; she got what she wanted; and she was a philanthropist. Eclectic art, clever design, period pieces include antique furniture, tapestries, sculptures to sarcophagus. Bellisima!
The gift shop is interesting, lots of books, and goodies. Peruse the ISG, and enjoy, often.
This is another of my Top 5 sites to see in Boston for a visitor.
I've visited the Gardner both before and after the museum's Vermeer et al were stolen, so I have that bit of perspective as well. Walking into the room where the Vermeer formerly sat is definitely a sad experience for me now.
First, the building itself, including the grounds, is a joy to experience.
Second, don't miss the room that exhibits the drawings, some found in a cabinet built into the wall.
Third, don't miss having a meal at the restaurant. They do a great job.
Fourth, take your time. There are so many items to see that you should allow plenty of time (2 hrs at least) for your visit.
After living in the Boston area for more than 20 years, I now live in the Los Angeles area and write reviews of its unique travel destinations. Find those columns here: http://www.examiner.co...
I'm no art critic, but I'm giving the ISGM an A++ for their after-hours Third Thursday.
1. The museum houses an incredibly eclectic collection of art crammed in every nook and cranny of the mansion: Renaissance tapestries, Impressionist pieces Degas, funky Chinese lanterns, personal portaits and even a letter to Isabella herself from Napoleon Bonaparte.
2. The museum is wam and welcoming -- like being in an overstuffed and slightly-creepy manse. If you get a chance, step out to the balcony overlooking the courtyard fountain and channel your inner Evita.
3. As my friend suggested, the crowd at Third Thursdays is more my speed: it's a smattering of younger people and families taking in the atmosphere. And no sketchy old guys. This is a huge, huge plus.
4. We got to go in the outdoor garden adjacent to the cafe! Really!
5. Our bartender knew how to do a champagne cocktail right.
6. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed, but with good reason.
*** 3.5 ***
I have to say, I think this Museum is a bit overrated.
It is a beautiful place and not your average museum, but my experience wasn't amazing in any way.
I had been really interested in coming here, because the pictures of the indoor garden/courtyard had looked beautiful. And sure, the actual thing was nice to look at, but I was a bit disappointed that you couldn't actually go in it. Also, the taking of pictures is completely forbidden here.
There weren't any pieces that especially wowed me. I'm also not a fan of the organization and not knowing exactly what everything is, since they don't label every piece. However, I think it is the history of the place that really makes it unique and interesting. It is pretty amazing that this woman designed this mansion herself, and walking through it just made me wonder about her life.
Overall, I definitely think it's worth one visit, but no more than that. I'm glad I got to pay the $5 student admission, because I definitely don't think it's worth 10 bucks.
** Also, I had to wonder about the Chinese Loggia on the 1st floor: what's with the cheesy stereotypical paper lanterns that look like they came from the dollar shop? Did Gardner really put them there, or did the workers, because it really takes away from the authentic feel... **
What an interesting gal ISG was! It's taken me nearly 4 years to finally get myself here and it was worth the time for the inside courtyard/garden alone. 5 stars for that.
I think if I went gaga over pre-20th century art and decorative items I think I'd have enjoyed this place more. I was also not so keen on the stuffy atmosphere, I understand the need for rules and decorum but it was pretty intense. Admittedly, I haven't been to an After Hours event, so my opinion may be swayed in that regard if I ever get to attend, which I'd definitely be up for.
The price was steep but understandable for the upkeep required and the sheer amount of pieces stuffed into the place. I was wiped when I left, which surprised me because the place seems small but it's deceptively fairly decent sized. It's definitely worth a trip if only because it's super close to the MFA and you're down to just go buck on museums in one day.
Having seen art all over the world this is my favorite. I majored in Art History in college (if that qualifies anything I am saying), and this is honestly the way art was meant to be viewed. It is worth the price student, regular, whatever, there are so few places in the world that offer a viewing experience like this. Breathtaking. A must see in Boston, its proximity to the MFA makes it for an easy trip.
My single favorite spot to look at priceless art.
The Getty has the bluff overlooking Malibu, and "Irises". The Art Institute of Chicago has that picture in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" that Cameron stared at for hours. The Smithsonian has the Hope Diamond and a ton of other really cool stuff- for free.
What does the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum have? Well, thanks to some douchebags who robbed the place of some really important pieces, not a whole lot of recognizable stuff, save for a self-portrait of Rembrandt (who was the master of light and dark, according to my favorite art museum guide- Twinkie).
So why is this place so magical- if the pieces are random (although placed in themed rooms) and you need a laminated card to tell you what they are as opposed to placards on the wall? The building itself- what the douchebags couldn't take. This place is AMAZING. Sure, the three floors and the collection can make your head spin, but gazing out in to that courtyard, lit by the sun, can immediately bring on a feeling of tranquility. Go during "after hours" when you can see everything both during sunset and moonlight.
Add to that some special cocktails and a DJ spinning, and you won't even care if it's a Manet or Titian. Not having a PhD in Art History shouldn't discourage you from going- it's not like you know about ALL the art at other museums anyway (and I've found that those with PhDs are weird).
Like my favorite Boston gay also suggested- go now. Do it. Do not pass "headless sculpture"; do not collect the $1.6 million dollars her father left her in 1891 to build it (which today would be about the amount of California's debt), just GO.
Great museum, beautiful garden and interesting backstory. Not your typical whitewash walls, scary echo museum.
The after hours is worth a try - don't arrive thinking there are free drinks or food because alas, there shall be none. When we went they did have a little game with clues that sent you to different rooms and then if you got all the clues you got prize. Our prize was free tickets to the museum! They also had a DJ and wine/beer/cocktails you could purchase.
Plus Harvard students get in free all the time.
The ISG-as Bostonians call it--is where EVERYTHING IS ECLECTIC. It's a manse that is now a museum. Isabella Stewart Gardner,a somewhat eccentric millionaire,collected art from all around the world. It's also (in)famous for its unsolved art theft.
Different cultures are eclectically drawn together. In one room,a Japanese screen of samurai is combined with a Madonna and child and Greek sculpture. Isabella,who desired children,but had none of her own,has a rather substantial collection of breastfeeding Madonnas. On the surface,her collection seems random--but that's part of the museum's charm. One truly feels that one is in a person's home, their eccentricities included,instead of the usual sterile museum.
The ISG is a must go-to destination in Boston!
Stunning entrance and ground floor/courtyard. I said it was my favorite museum as soon as I walked in. However after hitting floors 2 and 3 and holding my pee for the whole time I was beyond disappointed to see the guards roping off the bathrooms with 20 minutes to go before closing! Thank God the college next door as open! That was really rude. I guess because of the theft a couple decades ago visitors are not considered too nicely. There were helpful people at the "info" desk downstairs near courtyard. The guards/guides in various rooms were only marginally helpful in answering questions with a few word answers. Not too warm. VERY BEAUTIFUL, USE TOILET ON FIRST FLOOR BEFORE YOU GO UP!!!!
Just go. It is awesome. Seriously.
Great place for a date or just to go read in!
Five stars if you're a student and can get 1/2 off. Four-point-five stars for the rest of us, because ISG blows its wad when you first walk in, making the overall value of the price of admission not quite up to snuff. Let's not kid ourselves--what brings everyone back is the mega-decadent first floor with its Venetian courtyard, Chinese Loggia and colorful rooms. As you ascend this ornate mansion, nothing quite lives up to the spectacle at the entrance and as noted, a lot of the artwork is kind of dull unless you already know its specific historical context.
But what a grand spectacle that first floor is! It's absolutely breathtaking. The museum overall is a wonderful glimpse into the life and times of a seriously rich lady with art tastes that veered wildly from fanciful to dour. It's an delightful bit of history, unique to Boston. The first floor is good for lingering, the shop is delightful and as noted, the student price is a fantastic deal. Despite the relative tameness of the upper floors compared to the first, ISB is absolutely a must-see in Boston.
Five stars for sure! I came here on a field trip for a college course on the history of Boston so we had a nice guided tour through the museum. I was very impressed. The tour guide we had was incredibly knowledgeable and really designed the tour to focus on what we were learning in the course. She knew the answer to all of our questions and was truly fantastic.
The museum itself is just gorgeous. Ms. Gardener had fabulous taste! I have visited art museums in Europe, and this is truly a piece of the old world right here in Boston, which I think is a great experience for anyone. My favorite part, however, is the courtyard with it's glorious glass ceiling and beautiful flowers and trees. This really is a trip to Europe, one of Boston's hidden gems.
Skip the MFA and head right here, it's a much better value. They also have nights with entertainment and cocktails (go to the website and reserve a spot ahead of time). It makes for an upscale date on a budget, the pricing is wonderful.
Truly amazing that one person could have such a phenomenal collection of art!! The indoor courtyard is absolutely beautiful and the museum is easy to tour. It is easy to take it all in within a few hours but you could spend a lot longer taking in every piece if you desire.
Please don't bring young children!! There is nothing for them here. They will be bored. You won't see anything because hopefully you will be watching your kids to make sure they don't touch anything. Take them to the Children's Museum where they will have fun!
For many of us, the closest we will ever get to being inside an Italian Renaissance palazzo will be the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, with the unworldly beauty of its inner courtyard, fin-de-siecle ambiance (Whistler, Sargent, Berenson), and both quality and breadth of its collection of European painting.
The building's facade itself is relatively nondescript, but at least the contrast between the architecture and the collection is not as harsh, let's say, as that of the National Gallery in D.C.
Even shorn of its Rembrandt and Vermeer (from the 1990 heist), the Gardner is peerless if only due to the its similitude to an actual residence rather than an "institution," which will change with the advent of a new building addition by Renzo Piano in 2010.
The first Titian I ever saw was here--the famed "{Rape of] Europa," of which I had seen countless reproductions in books before. The scene--a close-up of Europa supine on the back of an enormous bull--was bathed in the most sublime Venetian colors--sapphire blue, rosy salmon, fleecy whites, and warm orange, and lagoon-deep greens.
Tucked away along one wall (in the "Spanish cloister") was Sargent's "El Jaleo," with its sulfurous dramatic intensity , stark chiaroscuro, reduced palette, and virtuoso brushwork.
And not far away, in the spirit of harmonious eclecticism, a Song dynasty wood Guanyin, the bodhisatta (also known in China as the "goddess of mercy").
With a strong whiff of Orientalism, Whistler's impressionistic "Nocturne in Blue and Silver/Battersea Ranch," hangs in the Yellow Room on the first floor.
Definitely worth a trip to again on my next visit to Boston. (On the West Coast, where I live, anything pre-World War II is considered ancient).
A list of artists and their works at the Gardner:
http://www.gardnermuse...
3.5 stars: The courtyard are is amazing, with sunlight bathing potted plants, statues, and lush ground cover in yellow light... But the museum is slightly difficult to get through if your PhD in Art History expired (or you never got one). There are a ton of amazing artists represented, as well as different artifacts... But if you don't know when, where, how, why, etc... They lose a little of their grandeur. For example, my inlaws went with me today, and after an hour, we left and I said, "What was your favorite part?" to which my MIL said, "Well, I really liked all the different pictures of Jesus and Mary" and my FIL said, "I guess it was cool looking at the old stuff."
Sure there are laminated cards in, like, three rooms. But if you're not in the specific areas, you're on your own, baby.
I fell in love in the Yellow Room.
Lady in Yellow by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is the most lovely portrait I have ever seen. You must see it! It is whimsical and romantic and dark and melancholy all at the same time.
The collection is smaller, less famous works, but for the art lover or student, the collection is a wonderful selection of respected artists.
Degas, Turner, Matisse, Manet, Sargent, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Vasari, Martini, Fra Angelico, Rubens, van Dyck, Rembrandt.
Their works may not be the ones in the text books, but they are significant and wonderful none the less!
The cloisters are beautiful as well as the rooms. Moroccan feel outside, Victorian inside.
Copies of Dante's Inferno. A courtyard modeled after those palazzos in Venice. Marble staircases. Renoir, Matisse and over 2500 pieces collected during the travels on one woman's life.
Someone one visited thousands of places and took home the most beautiful and precious tokens of culture and art. Someone decided that appreciation of art was more important than knowledge of art. Someone once lived here.
It's hard to imagine the museum as a home, but it once was and the woman who lived there lead the most extraordinary life and thought it essential for that life to live on for others to see...through paintings, rare books, letters to the most influential people in history, tapestries, chests, furniture and rugs.
Though I've been to the museum a number of times, I catch my breath every time I peer into the courtyard and get dizzy look up the balconies, up the four floors to the glass ceiling. Every time I have a visitor in Boston, I bring them here. No one is anything less than amazed.
Unlike the staunch stuffy stigma that comes with most museums, the ISGM holds Afterhours events with food and booze, music and mingling. It gives people the chance to experience history and culture without half-falling sleep in a dusty old mausoleum-esque monument. It's refreshing and fun, an approach that more cultural institutions could learn from. It's one of my favorite things in all of Boston.
This is the best museum I have ever gone to. All of the pieces in the museum are of her own personal collection. She was a huge fan of John Singer Sargent (They had a little something something on the side).
Each room of the museum has a different theme (Yellow Room, Tapestry room, Dutch room, Gothic room). I love how quiet the museum is. You become submerged in the art.
The courtyard is something in of itself to be awed. When the sunlight is shining through it is absolutely gorgeous! You don't have to be an art historian in order to enjoy this museum.
What I truly enjoyed is that everyone there knows the history of the museum and is pleased to share it with you. Everyone including the security guard, who was one of the most passionate people I have ever encountered.
I've been back to the Gardner a few times, and luckily enough, one of those nights was for After Hours. I absolutely love this idea.
I loved being there:
-with less people
-among fancy hoity toity people (even though I may have been a teeny bit intimidated by my lack of sophistication)
-walking around with wine all night
-sitting down to enjoy some great jazz upstairs
I wish someone told me what an amazing date this would be. I will now pass this along so others can enjoy and be romanced.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2007
Someone PLEASE tell me why it took 8+ years for me to get my ass over to ISG? Good GOD is this… Read more »
I can't say that I've been to every great art museum in the world, but I've been to a decent selection, and even as the list grows, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum remains my hands down favorite.
Everything about the museum is art, not just the paintings and drawings hanging on the walls, but the rooms' decor, the building's architecture, and the sunlit courtyard with the tiled floor and stunning flowers and plants. The best part about the Gardner is that it doesn't matter how many times you go; there's so much there that somehow, there's always something new to see.
I've still got two left of four free passes that I won awhile back. Can't wait to go again.
Amazing museum. Several notable pieces of really, really impressive art, combined with an absolutely beautiful courtyard and garden. Completely eclectic collection, from ancient Chinese art and instruments to classical Renaissance portraits to fancy antique (real antique) furniture. The architecture of the museum itself is a piece of art. One of the places you really must see before you leave Boston!
Having now been here twice for Gardner's After Hours events, I can safely say. . . I love this museum!!! What an interesting way to view the museum. From 5:30 - 9:30, every third Thursday of the month from September to June, one can visit the museum in an dimly candle lit, music/mingling/alcoholic drink atmosphere. Perfect place for singles to meet or for a date.
Each night has a theme, most recently "Buddha", musical guests performing in the 4-story high courtyard complete with garden and glass ceiling, courtyard-side bar, cafe, concert in the Tapestry Room, etc. Some dress according to theme, others arrive in dressy/casual attire.
Each room of the house displays a large variety of art, collected by Isabella herself during her lifetime, left just as she had placed it when she lived there. Walking through, it makes you wonder why she placed certain things where. . . such as the ancient bowl I found on the floor in the corner of one room.
I would definitely be interested to revisit this museum during the day, to see the light shine in through the glass ceiling. For now, I will put the miniature Buddha I bought at the gift shop on display and ponder the wonders of this museum.
You know, this museum was actually on Forbes' list of Best Museums in the U.S.?
I can see why they would choose to have it on the list. It's very Renaissance-y. It's got loads of awesome art pieces. The courtyard is beautiful. It creates a good atmosphere to relax and take in the beautiful masterpieces that surround you.
However, I do not think it should be on a list of Best Museums in the U.S.
Now, I have not been to the After Hours events, which judging by the reviews I've read, can be quite spectacular. Maybe that's why it is on the list. What better way to view great art if not through a dimly lit, wine haze?
Gaudy + Elegant = Amazing
I must have stared at the garden for half an hour.
The Great Art Caper
Copyright (c) 2008 Cha Cha "Cha Chia" W., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Exterior
You are standing in front of the security entrance side door dressed in a policeman's uniform. It is 1:24 a.m. and the gate is locked.
#Command: knock
Two guards let you into the building. You do not have any weapons.
#Command: fight, dispose of nonviolently
The guards have been overpowered, handcuffed, bound with duck tape and placed in the basement. No alarms were sounded.
#Command: sack museum, Dutch Room
You are in the Dutch Room on the 2nd floor that houses several Rembrandts and a Vermeer. The frames are too large to handle.
#Command: use knife
The paintings have been released. You roll and pocket: Rembrandt, "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee", "A Lady and Gentleman in Black", "Landscape with an Obelisk", "Self Portrait" and Vermeer, "The Concert". The ragged edges of the canvas hang in empty frames. You secretly smile at the thought of future generations of museum goers staring up at an empty space. Bonus point (1). You accidentally stub your thumb on a vase on the way out.
#Command: take vase
You pick up the bronze Chinese vase in anger and stuff it into your bag pack. This will make a fitting paper weight later. Bonus point (1).
#Command: run, Short Gallery
On the way there, you stop to admire the gorgeous view out of the colonnaded Venetian windows into the garden courtyard.
#Command: sack museum
You quickly grab: Degas, "Cortege Aux Environs de Florence", "Three Mounted Jockeys", "La Sortie du Pelage", "Program for an Artistic Soiree (2)" and a Napoleonic bronze eagle flag topper.
#Command: destroy evidence
On the way out, you rip out the video surveillance tape from the VCR.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed Level (1): The Heist. Would you like to continue to Level (2): The Fence?
Well there isn't much too say about this place. It was a boring house, I've seen better, and it needed more accessories to furnish it with.
I joke I joke. I went here for the first time during their night time extravaganza. Booze, food, and classy dressed people all exploring this wonderous mansion of art. Meanwhile a DJ spins in the garden.
Everyone had a story about so many pieces here. And of course I have to mention the indoor courtyard with trees and flowers, and a beautiful mozaic. This is all covered by a ceiling of glass that I can only imagine how beautiful it is when the sun shines through.
I like the concept of all the artwork being untouched since Gardner passed away. It adds a whole new deeper element to the furniture arrangement and such.
Definitely come and check this place out at least once. And definitley come to the after hours night event that happens every third thursday. It's an experience every Bostoner/traveller/visitor should experience!
Very pleasantly surprised. This really is a gem of Boston. It's like going to somebody's house filled with antiques. I really enjoyed it. Don't expect it to be like a regular museum, stuff is all over the place, but it's charming and exotic. There is even a letter signed by Marie Antoinnete on display.
This is the best museum in Boston hands down! With the MFA and their big commercialized exhibits and the new, showy ICA, this gem often gets overlooked. The building itself is art just as much as the pieces in which it holds. I recommend going here for a concert (they usually have it on their website) and just walking around for an afternoon. It isn't so great for children though.
My friend had mentioned visiting the After Hours "get together" several months ago, so when he realized it was happening yesterday and we had plans to hang out, we naturally decided to go.
We had NO idea how popular this thing would be!! We got extremely lucky with a parking spot after driving around for a few minutes (we could not have gotten a closer spot!) but lo and behold, there was a line! We were able to get into the After Hours, but not the Plus part (a concert), which apparently sold out 2 days before. Who knew!? (Ok, most people - but not us.)
The museum itself is very unique and interesting. The interior courtyard is huge (height-wise) and gorgeous. I started to think it's a great place for a wedding! They had a DJ spinning techno music, a bar with tasty white wine and Courtyard Bites, which were just some snacky foods.
Neither of us is a huge museum person - I tend to get bored - but I was very intrigued by the history of the museum and Isabella herself. The details of the decorations (check out the "crown molding" in the 2 red rooms) is phenomenal and the entire museum gives you an idea of what $1.6 million was worth in the early 1900s!! We started to take part in the Scavenger Hunt, but didn't want the Mardi Gras beads (last night was a Carnivale theme) and then jumped on to the end of a Viewfinder tour (we think). The guide was so informative and it was so interesting to hear details about the painting of Isabella that we wouldn't have thought of ourselves. Such a fun, unique event!
When we left, the line was around the corner! Apparently you need to buy early and get there early.
I don't know that I would come back, as the exhibits in the museum never change. So I feel that once you've seen it, you've seen it. But I would recommend this event to anyone who hasn't been or is a HUGE art/history person.
One of my favorite museums! It's so unique in that it has an indoor garden that changes every so often to keep things interesting. Plus the collection itself is quite amazing. There are always art students huddled in every nook and cranny of this place that gives it a casual atmosphere.
There are times when the rooms and aisles get cramped because of the people moving through, but it's still a great museum. I'd love to come back and explore some more!
This lady was seriously no joke!
I heard about this museum in a year-old copy of Lonely Planet's guide to Boston. I walk in and immediately attach myself to a tour group. One of the first things I see is 'El Jaleo' by John Singer Sargent. It's expansive and beautiful. it's positioned in this amazing space - the painting looks larger than life.
Then we step into the indoor open space. It's so lush and vibrant - filled with statues of mythological deities and plants.
Her art collection is something to be rivaled - hell, the entire house is something to be rivaled.
Go, just go.
Eclectic and charming art collection in a three-story Ersatz Venetian palazzo with a lovely courtyard. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you have out-of-town guests, although I have to admit that I found very few of the pieces truly stunning (and some of the art seems to be in need of better conservation/restoration). It's more the mix and arrangement than the art per se (although there are some really nice pieces here) that makes this an interesting place to visit - you definitely get the impression that Ms. Gardner was quite a character.
I would recommend getting the audio guide as virtually none of the art works have explanations or even labels.
