Going to Boston? Go to this museum!
Written: May 26 '00 (Updated May 26 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Homey feel, unique living garden mixed with old world art , accessible by Boston public transportation
Cons: -
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| Beauregard's Full Review: Boston |
This museum (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum) located in Boston, is truly unique. It's the old house of Isabella Stewart Gardner who was the daughter of a wealthy Long Island real estate mogul and husband of wealthy shipping magnet. This wealth allowed her to collect world-renowned art pieces in an eclectic combination of genres and styles.
What also lends to the charm of this museum is that it was the place of the still-unsolved heist of Rembrandt paintings a decade ago. Mystery always intrigues me and this is truly a mystery! But, what about the art that is still there? <g>
John Singer Sargent is represented greatly, complete with his wonderful use of whites in his paintings. So is James Whistler (Whistler's Mother), as both Sargent and Whistler were personal friends of Isabella.
Italian Renaissance is represented with Boticelli and Raphael paintings and Dutch with Rembrandt pieces (yes, the thieves left some masterpieces alone!). But, the crown jewel of this museum is the interior courtyard that has beautiful sculptures and plants. To have living plants grace the art is so unique. And the museum winds around the courtyard so most of the exhibits have natural light cast on them.
Also charming is that the Museum holds concerts in the courtyard on the weekends -- usually chamber music or jazz ensembles. The way the music floats through the Museum makes you think you're at a high society party back in the early 20th century.
Enter this museum and you'll immediately feel a connection to the art and to Gardner who had such a great vision to open her home to the public back in 1903. Check out picture of the courtyard at http://www.boston.com/gardner/courtyard.htm
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Beauregard
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Reviews written: 129
Trusted by: 129 members
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