Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Really really cool art museum. Very different and so unique in the collection and display of the art.

What a wonderful visit, I’m so glad to have chosen to go here during my limited time in Boston. Don’t miss taking a guided tour (included in admission price) — our docent was really top notch, and really helped to give you a good sense of WHY this museum is the way it is. If you come expecting a traditional house museum, or a formally-​arranged fine art museum, you will be disappointed. But you can’t deny the power of the amazing and beautiful works of art that ISG collected, and her distinctive design aesthetic.

The only nice thing about this museum is the garden. The indoor is very dim and you can hardly see anything. House smells like old furniture. The display ranges from being messy to random. It makes me wonder where should the line be drawn between «a collector» and «a hoarder». I was carrying my coat on my arm and was told by a guard that I had to either tie it on my waist or wear it. Haha, as if I even care to rob this museum.

Love it here! The courtyard is so pretty and they have so much beautiful art here. I could spend so much time here. The staff is friendly and nice. Well worth a visit.

Isabella Gardner museum is special because some of the artworks are built in the house itself.
The beautiful landscape is obviously a huge plus.
They offer a reward for the leads to the missing art pieces stolen years ago.
Checkout Third Thursday nights, they are very social and unusual.

This is not a conventional art museum. This is a beautiful estate that was donated to the city of Boston upon her death. The courtyard is absolutely stunning. The art collection is unique, with a good portion made up of religious works. Different rooms have different themes in line with her different interests. A more modern attachment has been made with the entrance and a restaurant. There is also live music here on weekends. A beautiful spot to stop when in town.

LOVELY. Small. Interesting. Just what a nice fall afternoon needed. The museum really highlights what a city Protector thought about womens suffrage and contributions to the city and culture. A place worth taking your out of town guests for a short and memorable visit.

One of the best museums I’ve ever been to. It’s rare to view someone’s private collection as it was experienced decades ago inside their homes. Her Venetian courtyard in the center of the home is beautiful and calming.

I went here with my budding artist. The garden is amazing and the story/​history of the museum is great. Overall, the size is small and parking is really difficult. (tip: park in the garage for THE MFA)

Such a fun museum. It’s a unique place with a unique history, and the famous art theft makes it even more fascinating. I can never get enough of this place.

love love love this place. spent many many days as a student in the courtyard reading, then stolling through to see all of the amazing collections No one ever asked me to move, limited my time or disturbed me. There is never a feeling of being rushed, the courtyard is a piece of eden in the city for everyone to enjoy. Thank you Stewarts for this experience.

Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840 – 1924) was one of America’s greatest gilded age art patrons and collectors, and particularly noteworthy for having done so in a time when very few women managed to play the old-boy’s game. Gardner and her husband Jack traveled extensively and their particular love of Venice is reflected in the home she built to serve as a museum in 1898 following her husband’s death, just a block from Boston’s Museum of Fine Art (MFA). The core of the structure is a richly planted, glass roofed courtyard (enjoy the view, but visitors are not allowed to enter it!) which illuminates three floors of displays and a fourth floor where Gardner herself lived following the Museum’s opening in 1903 and now serves as offices. Gardner’s collecting included both contemporary artists, notable among them the American ex-​patriot John Singer Sargent and Sweden’s Anders Zorn, both of whom painted portraits of her, as well as European masters of five centuries, many of whose works she acquired in consultation with the legendary scholar-​dealer Bernard Berenson, as well as Asian arts. Collection highlights include fine and decorative arts, among them Roman antiquities and oils by Titian, Botticelli, Raphael, Piero della Francesca, Velazquez and Rembrandt.
Unfortunately, despite her singular achievements as a collector, the Gardner presents significant challenges as a museum. First, Gardner arranged things in a highly idiosyncratic manner and second, willed that nothing ever be changed. Thus works are hung too high or too low, illuminated poorly or not at all, works on paper are stuffed into cases in which they can barely if at all be viewed, there are almost no labels or item numbers and the laminated cards that have since been developed, four to a room – one for each compass direction, are clumsy and still provide minimal information on those items they cover at all. Third, and most tragically, in 1990 the Gardner was the victim of a major theft, clearly carefully planned, during which 13 works including oils on canvas by Manet, Vermeer and no less than three by Rembrandt were stolen. Despite tantalizing leads, none have (yet) been recovered; the empty frames from which they were cut still hang on the Gardner’s walls, hauntingly empty to this day.
Nonetheless, since Gardner also willed that nothing be lent, the only way to see any of the remaining fine and decorative art treasures and the unique gem she created to house them, is to visit. Given the lighting problems, try hard to do so on a sunny day. If arriving by car, consider paying to park at the nearby MFA, whose collection you’ll definitely wish to visit as well in any case. One now enters the museum through the rear, via an ungainly modernist glass box of an extension designed by America’s favorite museum architect, Renzo Piano, which opened in 2012. The unfortunate new building is at least accessible, and includes a book and gift store and formal restaurant as well as a concert hall that is now used in lieu of the classic one Gardner included in the original building. It also houses a gallery for special exhibitions (most recently one on the Renaissance Venetian painter Carlo Crivelli, by whom the Gardner owns a fine panel of St. George Slaying the Dragon of 1470).

I stumbled upon this museum when I was putting together my Boston Go Card. I really enjoy unique sight seeing opportunities and this place did not disappoint! This place has a magical flair to it, very beautiful & unique! The courtyard is simply breath taking! I could have stayed there for hours! It was interesting to see artists there sitting with their sketch pads, both in the courtyard and in the museum!
The rooms itself throughout the museum are beautiful! The most amazing pieces of art! It was also interesting to read the history of Isabella & to read about the theft! You can still see empty frames from where works of art were cut out!

This museum is unique, bizarre and fascinating. You really need the entire historical story to even begin to understand it. This massive edifice is chock full of priceless art, from the floors themselves to the wall hangings, sculpture, and paintings all the way to the ceilings. There is even a church inside! The entire place surrounds an incredible courtyard which is its own work of art!
It’s not really organized in a traditional museum-​like way and that’s clearly part of the fun. Make sure you get a audio guide or better yet, a tour guide, or you will simply be overwhelmed and under-​informed.
By the way, my favorite quote from Isabella is «Don’t spoil a good story by telling the truth.» She was truly a unique woman and an incredible patron of the arts.

Very interesting and unexpected museum located in Boston. The history behind this is very intriguing. The museum houses artwork from around the world including European, Asian and modern and each piece is placed in a specific spot by Isabella Stewart herself.
–Make sure to show your student I. D for a discount!

I have visited Boston a few times, but had never gotten around to visiting the museum. I’m very glad that I made the time on this trip. Different from many museums, since this was also at one point the founder’s home. Interesting and diverse collection, which can be a bit challenging to navigate — which adds somewhat to the charm. Lovely building and grounds-​especially liked the courtyard, which featured live music during my visit. Nice onsite restaurant-​please see separate review. Allow several hours for your visit.

This is one of the most breathtaking and magical places to visit in Boston. It’s not only beautiful for the paintings but the ambiance, building, history and everything about the museum in general is fascinating.
We took a tour and the guide was so friendly and filled the tour with really interesting trivia and bits of information about Isabella Gardner and her collection.
If you can take a guided tour I highly recommend it because you learn much more than the titles of the paintings.

Gorgeous museum.
The courtyard was beautiful. My friend and I drank our beers in the courtyard while waiting (the only place allowed) for our show.

I’ve lived in Boston since 2007 (minus 3 years) and I hadn’t been until this summer. I always go to museums when I travel, so I“m not sure why I have such an issue going while home. It’s really beautiful inside, and it really transports you to Europe.
The event I went to (Alice in Wonderland) was fun but PACKED. The line for making a tea cup looked hours long, so we sadly didn’t do that. Now I know for next time to go straight there!

I visited the museum last weekend and it is BEAUTIFUL. Very well kept and of course, the highlight is the garden. It is truly a sight! The building itself is clean and modern. You can easily spend 3 – 4 hours here visiting every room. I did not get the audio tour ($ 4) but simply roamed the museum reading the signage and loved it! The staff is helpful and passionate about their job. I remember seeing one or two staff members standing near the help-​desk eager to answer questions. A negative experience was the security guard that went out of her way to tell me that no photos are allowed (on the third floor). While I understand she is simply doing her job, it is irritating since I didn’t even have my phone in my hand!!! Finally, to all the students out there: bring your student ID for a discount!
Would love to come back during different seasons to see the difference in flora and fauna!

I want to come here again and again and again. I don’t think I can get over how gorgeous the place is. I got there around 12ish and the place was already busy. I would suggest coming earlier (especially for good pictures!). My friend suggested getting the audio tour tape since there’s not too many descriptions by the art — and I definitely thought that was helpful for the first time to really listen to the history of the place. I am still in awe at how beautiful the museum is and all the different art pieces ISG collected. I could probably spend my whole day at the museum.
If you decide to stop by soon, there is an artist in residence piece called peony: the knot of shame and it is mesmerizing!

So many of the reviews have already captured the charm and eclectic nature of this museum. I completely agree. I’ll just share a few practical pieces I picked up from my experience.
First, wear comfortable shoes! There is a small elevator in the museum but more likely than not you’ll be taking the stairs.
Second, plan on spending several hours there. I only had about an hour or so to spend and my time felt a little limited. If you’re in town on business and you think you can fit it all in between meetings, you’d be wrong. :)
Finally, soak it all in! I have to admit, I was a little discouraged at first to see that photography was not allowed on the upper floors. However, in the end it was a positive thing — I was less involved with my phone and more engaged with the experience.

Incredible museum! Very magical and special! I discover something new every time. The ISGM is a very unique experience that is unsurpassed.

Oh I loved it here! What a great collection f art, a beautiful indoor garden and an interesting story.
I loved reading about Isabella while I was here: the loss of her son leading to adventurous trips and the inheritance her father left her all guiding her on the path to open her own museum. It is such a neat concept that none of the paintings and art have been moved and is the longest running music program in the U.S.!!
While we were there we heard a lovely pianist and enjoyed a chilly spring afternoon viewing the indoor courtyard gardens full of beautiful flowers, amazing sunlight and interesting sculptures. What a great little find!

Ein Museum, das man gesehen haben muss.
Mitten in Boston unweit des Museums of fine art in einem unscheinbaren Haus untergebracht. Einmal drinnen im Museum taucht man in eine andere Welt ein. Das Haus wurde von der wohlhabenden Industriellengattin Isabella Stewart Gardner eigens für die Unterbringung und Ausstellung ihrer umfangreichen Sammlung gebaut. Der Stil ist einem venzezianischem Palazzo nachempfunden und man fühlt sich wirklich wie in Venedig. Das Herzstück des Hauses ist ein überdachter Innenhof, der über das ganze Jahr hindurch wunderschön bepflanzt ist. Mrs. Gardener liebte Pflanzen und Blüten.
Das Haus ist 4 Stockwerke hoch und wurde als Museum geplant. Sie wohnte im vierten Stock und zeichnet sich dafür allein verantwortlich, wo jedes Stück seinen Platz findet. Die Sammlerstücke wurden nicht beschriftet und dadurch hat das Museum einen wohnlichen Charakter. Wer mehr über die Sammlerstücke wissen will, nimmt sich einen Audioguide.
In ihrem Nachlass hatte sie einen Kurator bestimmt, der dafür Sorge tragen sollte, jedes Stück muss an seinem Platz bleiben. So ist und bleibt dieses Museum in der Zusammenstellung, wie es die Gründerin wollte. In ihrem letzten Willen wurde vermerkt, würde jemals ein Teil der Sammlung verkauft oder verborgt werden, dann fällt das Erbe zur Gänze an die Harvard Stiftung. Vor einigen Jahren wurden drei wertvolle Gemälde aus dem Haus gestohlen. Dem letzten Willen gemäß stehen die leeren Rahmen genau dort, wo sie seinerzeit plaziert wurden. Ein hoher Finderlohn (und vermutlich lebenslanger Gratiseintritt) winkt, wer die gestohlenen Kunstwerke aufspürt.
Absolutes Fotografierverbot — leider …