Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Overview

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a Venetian-style palazzo housing a world-class art collection, displayed exactly as its founder arranged it before her death in 1924. The central courtyard garden, blooming year-round, is one of Boston's most serene spaces.

Highlights

• The Courtyard: A three-story glass-roofed atrium with seasonal flower displays and Roman architectural fragments.
• Titian's Europa: One of the finest Renaissance paintings in the Americas.
• 1990 Art Theft: Empty frames mark where 13 works — including a Vermeer — were stolen in the largest unsolved art theft in history.

History

Isabella Stewart Gardner spent 30 years assembling her collection during trips to Europe and Asia. She designed Fenway Court to evoke a 15th-century Venetian palace, which opened to the public in 1903. Renzo Piano designed the modern New Wing in 2012.

Visitor Tips

• Named Isabella?: Anyone named Isabella gets free admission for life.
• No rearranging: Gardner's will stipulates every object must remain where she placed it.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.