Gardner Museum, reviewed by Rebecca Wnuk

Using Art As a Personal Narrative

By Rebecca Wnuk

            Being in a room at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is like being in a room of an ornate Venetian-era mansion. Located in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, the museum houses Ms. Stewart Gardner's personal art collection- a magnificent compilation of paintings, textiles, furniture and more from around the world.

            Each of the museum's 25 rooms is precisely laid out and meticulously styled, thanks to Stewart Gardener's impressive feat of designing the whole museum herself. She not only helped design the building architecturally, but went as far as placing each piece of art in a specific location according to her tastes. The position of every last painting, book and piece of silverware was carefully considered by the museum's eponym, and as requested in her will, each piece has remained unmoved, to this day still resting in the exact spot she decided to put it. This fact gives the museum an incredibly personal feel, allowing visitors to view the artwork exactly how she intended.

            The casual-yet-elegant tone of each room accentuates its home-y vibe. Instead of the white walled, brightly lit sterility that is associated with a "museum," The Gardner is remarkably ornate and comfortably dim. The walls are decorated to keep with each room's theme, begetting unique decor in each space: while some walls are lined with tapestry or covered by cushioned fabric, others are painted in saturated blue tones or coated with thousands of tiny ceramic tiles. The lighting is almost entirely natural- entering through the vast amount of windows and skylights, it's aided only by sparsely scattered glowing candles to light rooms positioned where the sun can't quite reach. The lack of blinding spotlights or overhead incandescents results in a serene and soothing atmosphere (and a necessary squinting action to ease adjusting eyes when stepping back into bright light.) 

            The museum's interior design seems to desperately call for a permanent residence. Intricately carved wooden tables are set with shining silverware, hand-painted plates, colored glass pitchers and embroidered napkins, as if wistfully waiting for a family to sit down and dine. Ancient jewelry boxes and leather-bound books sit atop a dresser that could easily be part of any 18th century girl's room. A grand piano calls out longingly, hoping for someone sit on its lavishly cushioned stool and dance their fingers across its keys. By arranging each furnishing just so, Isabella Stewart Gardner creates an intimate environment of familiarity for visitors to roam through at their own pace.

            While exploring the museum, a sense of connection forms between its creator and its viewer. So little has changed since the opening of the building that viewers feel a direct bond with Isabella when observing her humble yet exquisite collection of art. With each piece intentionally placed, the canvases, sculptures and textiles tell stories Isabella strove to convey. But while the main goal of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is to exhibit  historical works of art, the museum also reveals much about the creator herself- perhaps why the pieces and arrangements are so relatable in the first place.