Class Trip: Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum

Honors: Libraries, Museums Prof. Cheryl Nixon Class Notes

Brief Biography of Isabella Stuart Gardner (thanks to John!): --Isabella Stewart Gardner was born April 14th, 1840 and died July 17th, 1924. She was widely regarded as one of Boston’s most eccentric personalities. --She married John Gardner on June 18th, 1860. After the couple’s only son died they traveled the globe and began collecting art and artifacts to bring back with them. They traversed Asia, Europe and the Americas seeking out new locations and pieces. Over the course of their travels the couple collected seminal works from famed Renaissance artists such as Raphael, Titian and Botticelli. --After John Gardner’s death Isabella purchased land on the Fenway to open up a museum. When the museum opened in 1903, the Boston Symphony Orchestra was on hand. After the opening Isabella lived on the fourth floor. --Towards the end of her life Gardner was an ardent supporter of Boston area charities and the Boston Red Sox.

1. Our Experience of the Idea of a Museum, “Past” and “Present”: How do the two buildings of the Gardner capture two different (or complementary!) visions of what a museum is and can be? Compare these two buildings to the two BPL buildings.

Please note some repeating elements: In the old wing: --The emphasis on decorative elements --The use of a courtyard --The use of color for effect (dark vs. light rooms) --The importance of staircases --John Singer Sargent—find his painting of Gardner! In the new wing --The emphasis on architectural geometry --The emphasis on people and the use of the building

2. Our “Textual Reality” Expectations of Museums: What is our expected (stereotyped) expectation for a museum? How does the Gardner break out of that (or “play with”) those expectations? 3. Our “Close Reading” of a Museum Room (Specific Room Analysis): Pick a specific room for analysis. Take notes on what strikes you as unique about the “experience” the room is creating. For example, how are items arranged? How are items labeled? How do you learn information about the set-up of the room and the objects in it?

4. The Museum as Expressing a “Vision”: Obviously this museum is very much the vision of one unique person! Think about how a museum can capture a unique vision. For example, what if we defined Isabella Stuart Gardner as an “artisit” and this museum as her “art piece” (like a conceptual or experiential art work!)—how would you define that art work? What words would you use to describe her artistic vistion?

Note that Gardner’s love of rare books and manuscripts is expressed in the museum. Look under the covers on the cases on the 3rd floor—you can see her Dante collection of rare books, for example.

5. The Museum as Enacting “Access and Preservation”: How does this museum balance the competing demands of access and preservation? How does this museum make Garnder’s unique vision accessible, while also preserving and protecting it?

Do a little research on the art theft at the Gardner; think about how that shows the importance of preservation/protection.