Museum spaces are not always about grandness and scale. Some museums, like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, are meant to offer a boutique, private experience of viewing art. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at this museum to see what it’s famous for and what artwork you can admire by visiting it.

Who Was Isabella Stewart Gardner?

Logically, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was named after its founder, a prominent American art collector and philanthropist. Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) was a passionate patron of the arts throughout her lifetime, who managed to compile a collection exceeding 2,500 objects brought from her international trips. After her husband’s death in 1898, she committed to the construction of a private mansion that would house her collection. The mansion was opened to the public in 1903 and has remained largely unchanged since then, preserving the unique vibe of the early 20th century and welcoming visitors for an intimate viewing of Gardner’s eclectic art heritage.

What Is the Museum Famous For?

The main distinguishing feature of the Museum is Gardner’s unconventional approach to collecting art. The founder followed the calling of her heart and personal tastes in art purchases, which resulted in a collection representing a one-of-a-kind blend of European, Asian, and American art that doesn’t fit museum conventions.

Art connoisseurs praise the Museum for its informal, intimate setting that creates an atmosphere of visiting an old friend’s house. The mansion itself preserves its historic charm, which makes it a frequent place for holding exclusive concerts and cultural programs. It is also famous for its courtyard, a beautiful green area with blooming flowers and abundant greenery.

Art Collection of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Gardner Museum’s collection spans all historical periods, from ancient Rome to 19th-century art. The European art section features some exclusive masterpieces by Raphael, Whistler, and Botticelli, while the American art section features works by such masters as John Singer Sargent. Chinese bronzes and Japanese screens represent Asian art. The museum collection also includes some rare Islamic ceramics. Besides, the mansion is embellished with Renaissance-period furniture, tapestries, and rare books.

The Gardner Museum was deprived of a significant portion of its art collection during the 1990 robbery, which remains unresolved. The thieves stole a total of 13 artworks, including unique masterpieces by Degas, Vermeer, and Rembrandt. The total sum of loss for the Museum exceeded $500 million. The frames from which the artworks were extracted during the robbery remain empty on the museum’s walls to this day.