Introduction The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a lesser-known but significant art museum that houses an impressive collection of European, Asian, and American art. Founded by Isabella Stewart Gardner, the museum's mission is to provide education and enjoyment to the public forever.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: A Hidden Gem in Boston
Introduction
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a lesser-known but significant art museum that houses an impressive collection of European, Asian, and American art. Founded by Isabella Stewart Gardner, the museum's mission is to provide education and enjoyment to the public forever.
History
Isabella Stewart Gardner was a wealthy art collector who traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, amassing an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. She built the museum in 1903 to house her collection and display it for the public's enjoyment. The museum is designed in the style of a Venetian palazzo, complete with a courtyard filled with plants and flowers.
In 1990, thirteen works of art were stolen from the museum in what remains one of the most significant unsolved art crimes in history. Among the stolen works were paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Degas, valued at an estimated $500 million. The empty frames remain hanging in homage to the missing works and as placeholders for their return.
Collection
The museum's collection includes over 2,500 objects, including paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. Highlights of the collection include:
- The Concert, a painting by Johannes Vermeer, thought to be one of only 34 known works by the artist and considered one of his masterpieces.
- Musicians, a fresco by Giorgio Vasari, an Italian painter and architect who was one of the founders of the Florentine Renaissance.
Visiting the Museum
The museum is open daily from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended hours on Thursdays until 9:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and free for children under 18. The museum offers guided tours, lectures, and other educational programs throughout the year.
Conclusion
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a hidden gem in Boston that offers visitors an opportunity to see an impressive collection of European, Asian, and American art. Despite the loss of thirteen works of art in 1990, the museum remains a significant cultural institution that continues to inspire and educate visitors from around the world.
The Berenson Collection at Villa I Tatti, Settignano, ItalyThe Museum Cathedral of Rouen, FranceThe Museum National Gallery (Greece)Painting by 'Titian Ramsey Peale Ii' : Abduction of EuropaPainting by 'Sofonisba Anguissola' : Portrait of Juana of Austria with a Young GirlPainting by 'Giorgio Vasari' : MusiciansPainting by 'Rembrandt Peale' : The Storm on the Sea of GalileeIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum]Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum_theft]Museum of Bad Art [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Bad_Art]