As a kid I spent a ton of time at the Museum of Fine Arts. My parents took my little sister and I to those children's scavenger hunts on Saturdays, my sister took art classes at the Museum School and she eventually became a teaching assistant in the school. I also explored the halls of the museum with my Girl Scout troop year after year (don't mock, you know you love the cookies). I share all of this with you because it's these facts that make it incredibly surprising that after 27 years of visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, I never once visited its neighbor across the street, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Shame on you, parents.
When my mother was in town from Miami for business a few weeks ago she bought us tickets to visit the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. For those who may not know, the museum recently unveiled a new addition to the building, a major coup considering the museum's rules (more on that later).
We arrived on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
The first thing I noticed about the new entrance (aside from the glass exterior) was the giant painting of a red tree. Check it out:
I think in the spring, when the trees get their leaves back, this piece will look beautiful among the blooming branches.
Once we made it through the lobby (which was mobbed) we entered what the museum is calling the living room. The living room is where you go to check in with museum staff about anything special happening in the building that day or to flip through the beautiful art books they have or to simply sit and rest after walking around.
I had taken about three steps into the living room when I heard a high pitched chirping sound. I looked around to see where it might be coming from and this little girl was the reason I spotted them - birds!
She was so mesmerized by these tiny, tweeting creatures that she sat still, staring at them for a full five minutes while I snapped away.
As I walked to the other side of the room I spotted a large drawing book with an intricate, pastel blue design. I'm not sure if this was created by the museum or by a visitor, but it's pretty either way.
After the living room we walked across the new glass tunnel from the addition into the original museum space.
Now, time for a short history lesson. Isabella Stewart married Jack Gardner and as a couple they shared great wealth and a love of art. Pursuing that passion, Isabella began a private collection. In 1896, after amassing quite the collection of impressive works, the Gardners decided to commission an architect (William T. Sears) to build them a museum.
On January 1st, 1903 the doors to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum opened with a reception that included a performance from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Not too shabby, eh?
On February 23rd, 1903 the doors opened to the public. The first three floors housed the art work (all personally placed by Isabella) and she lived on the top floor in a private residence.
Ok! Now that you have the background, on to the rest of the review!
We set foot into the original museum building and I gasped! I had no idea the museum was home to a lush, blooming courtyard, complete with a full sky light ceiling. I was able to take one photo before the security guard scolded me.
Since I wasn't able to take photos in the museum, I'll describe to you what we experienced. We started on the top floor because we wanted to attend the afternoon talk given by one of the museum docents about Isabella's portrait, which hangs in one of the galleries. It was so nice to hear from an expert about all the details of the painting and the time period. No additional cost to attend the talk!
We explored all three floors of the museum, slowly walking through each gallery and hallway to take it all in. According to the museum's website, "The galleries house works by some of the most recognized artists in the world, including Titian, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Manet, Degas, Whistler and Sargent."
When Isabella passed away she left the museum to the city of Boston with one major caveat, "The museum remain as I have arranged it 'for the education and enrichment of the public forever.'" Well! As you can imagine, times have changed since her passing, but nothing in the museum has! The best way I can describe the feeling of walking through these galleries is, "Hoarders: Art Edition." Every room is dark, strangely laid out and for some inexplicable reason, there are so many chairs!
While it was clearly an overwhelmingly generous gift to the people of Boston, mandating that nothing about the museum change is quite a strict order! Hence why the construction of this new wing was such a big deal.
After touring all three levels and basking in the sun in the courtyard one more time, we walked back through tunnel to the new wing.
We walked upstairs to wander the new gallery and I couldn't help but notice two iconic Boston buildings peeking out over the museum walls as I looked out the gallery windows.
From the second floor you can also see from the new wing into the old museum:
When heading back downstairs I caught a glimpse of the inside of the museum's new elevator which is bright, grass green!
Before leaving we toured the museum's new greenhouse which grows the plants and flowers that populate the courtyard on the other side.
We learned the greenery in the courtyard is changed completely nine times a year!
The plants and flowers are brilliant colors:
From the greenhouse you can see the new Mass College of Art dorm which is super funky:
Though the galleries of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum take a bit of patience, I suggest taking a trip to the museum if for no other reason than to bask in the sun light of that spectacular courtyard. Nothing chases the winter blues away like some Vitamin D.
Have you ever been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum? What did you think?
