I have been too busy living life to write about it... just back from a glorious few days in Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod (or God as one fellow described it!). We have had a heatwave and so it is hard to cast myself back to the cold, wet windy days when we first arrived.
Cold and wet it was though and so we sought solace in an amazing museum. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
An amazing woman of passion and adventure. She and her husband Jack travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the American West. Including a year long trip through Japan, China, Cambodia and India... no mean feat in the 1800's.
She created 27 travel albums in that time, which included her own paintings and sketches. Check them out here.
I think this photo & painting show her metamorphosis from a young woman trying to fit into Boston Society (and failing) to world renowned art collector.
After the death of her father and husband she had the means to create this incredible museum. She was rich but it was her acumen, knowledge and networks in the worlds of art and music that supported her to make the astute purchases that have resulted in this world class museum.
At the entrance to the museum, there is an impressive garden from which you can see and feel the character of the museum, which is based on the Venetian Palazzo, where Isabella and Jack used to stay.
The museum is overwhelming... every room full of priceless or quirky art, carefully placed in position by Isabella herself. Her will states that no item may be moved... even by an inch or her money goes to Harvard!
Items that have been moved however, are thirteen paintings. In 1990 a pair of thieves, disguised as police officers broke in, tied up the guards and walked away with over 500 million dollars worth of artworks. They have never been found and there is currently a reward of over 10 million. The museum now displays empty frames where the artworks once were!
Loved that anyone called Isabella gets free entry!
Couldn't get to see the new extensions and gardens because of the windy, rainy weather. Will try to get back.
Cold and wet it was though and so we sought solace in an amazing museum. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
An amazing woman of passion and adventure. She and her husband Jack travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the American West. Including a year long trip through Japan, China, Cambodia and India... no mean feat in the 1800's.She created 27 travel albums in that time, which included her own paintings and sketches. Check them out here.
I think this photo & painting show her metamorphosis from a young woman trying to fit into Boston Society (and failing) to world renowned art collector.
After the death of her father and husband she had the means to create this incredible museum. She was rich but it was her acumen, knowledge and networks in the worlds of art and music that supported her to make the astute purchases that have resulted in this world class museum.
At the entrance to the museum, there is an impressive garden from which you can see and feel the character of the museum, which is based on the Venetian Palazzo, where Isabella and Jack used to stay.
The museum is overwhelming... every room full of priceless or quirky art, carefully placed in position by Isabella herself. Her will states that no item may be moved... even by an inch or her money goes to Harvard!
Loved that anyone called Isabella gets free entry!
Couldn't get to see the new extensions and gardens because of the windy, rainy weather. Will try to get back.
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