Review by Heaven Bellamy
This museum is an
encapsulation of unbelievable art that does the work of mystifying its
examiners. It is a building that holds a kaleidoscope of moments in history.
Each gallery faces a centered garden that acts as a justified triennium of
natural life. The center piece gives each transition between floors a profound
feeling of openness. The acoustics of voices, and water fountains echo through
each opening of the windowsills to the garden. Perhaps the most obscure, yet
mesmerizing opening in the garden is the one on the second floor that piers
into a long granite staircase that leads to one of the several galleries of
randomly placed rustic items. The clear glass ceiling to this magnificent
center room gives the illusion that the garden is outside, and because of its
massive height and width, it might as well be.
The rooms that surround the garden are riddled with
thickly layered Victorian paintings and artifacts that show their age through
their worn down color, and their tendency to dully reflect light. Along several
of the walls are massive fixtures of thick tapestry with years’ worth of
detail. Each long sheet of countless thread tells their own story.
One of the most
memorable rooms is the one that holds Isabella Stewart Gardeners portrait in
the corner. This room’s most recognizable theme is religion. There are angel
carvings and figurines lined along each wall. Several of them are holding
candles, and watching over paintings of Mary and Jesus. It is impossible to
avoid the brightly colored red, yellow, and blue stained glass on the back wall
that depicts the deliberation of Roman Catholics in the grey area time period.
In the center of the room, there are rows of aged jewelry boxes with tiny locks
for miniature keys. It is a wonder what purpose these boxes might serve,
especially in such abundance. But, regardless of their strange and unusual
nature, they catch the eye, and fail not to amaze.
The pieces themselves
are works of magic, but the rooms that they are held in are masterful in design
and in architect. All the way from the ceilings that look like the tops of
treasure chests, to the tile floors that look like ancient buildings sculpted
out of brick, this museum is an ingenious creation with beautiful intention.
A visit to the Isabella
Stewart Gardener is an experience that rejuvenates the soul, and it is sure to
be well worth your while.
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