Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Isabella Stewart Gardner was a daring, eccentric art lover who opened a museum in 1903 to showcase her collection in just the way she wanted. By her decree, not much has changed since her death in 1924. A controversial addition now under construction will expand the ISabella Stewart Gardner museum’s footprint and its facilities. But the original building with its galleries surrounding a flower-filled Italianate courtyard remains. The one big change since then? The 1990 theft of Vermeer’s The Concert and several other masterworks, which is noted by conspicuously empty spaces on the walls to mark the missing works. Also worth looking out for here are various music series and artist-in-residence programs.

Write a Review