Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a museum in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of fine arts. The museum is named after Isabella Stewart Gardner, a passionate collector of art who donated her collection to the museum in 1924. The museum houses over 2,500 works of art, ranging from ancient to modern, and has become one of the most visited art museums in the United States.
History
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was founded in 1903 by Isabella Stewart Gardner, a philanthropist and collector of art. Gardner purchased the land for the museum in 1891 and began construction of the building in 1898. The museum was modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palace, and was completed in 1903. Gardner filled the museum with her personal collection of art and artifacts, which included works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and Raphael, among others. Gardner’s will stipulated that the museum remain exactly as she had arranged it, and that no changes could be made to the collection or its display.
Collection
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum houses over 2,500 works of art, ranging from ancient to modern. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, and decorative arts. Some of the museum’s most notable works include:
- Botticelli’s The Adoration of the Magi
- Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait
- Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child
- Raphael’s The Colonna Altarpiece
In addition to its permanent collection, the museum also hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions and special events.
Theft
In 1990, the museum was the victim of one of the largest art thefts in history. Two thieves broke into the museum and stole 13 works of art, valued at over $500 million. The stolen works included paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Degas, as well as a Chinese guan vase and a finial from a Napoleonic flag. The stolen works have never been recovered and the thieves have never been identified.
Museum Today
Today, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum remains a popular destination for visitors from around the world. The museum offers a variety of programs and activities, including lectures, concerts, and educational programs for children. The museum also hosts a variety of special exhibitions throughout the year.
Admission and Hours
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. Admission is free for children under 12 and $15 for adults. The museum also offers discounts for students and seniors.