Isabella Stewart Gardner

Isabella Stewart Gardner: Mrs. Jack

There are many different images of Isabella Stewart Gardner through her lifetime. The paintings of her are only one set of images that we are presented with when searching for information on her. The other images we are given are the interpretations of her from her biography as well as reports written about her. Her images show a woman looking young for her age as well as a carefree spirit, and then we see her image in failing health. I believe that she was a woman ahead of her time in her views and her actions within the community that she lived.

The most common image of Gardner that we find when searching is her first portrait done by John Sargent in 1888. Isabella met Sargent in 1886 through a mutual friend, Henry James. "Mrs. Jack first fell in love with Sargent's work when she saw his powerful El Jaleo (1882)." Sargent came to America two years after their first meeting and decided to paint Isabella. Sargent tried eight times to paint a portrait of Isabella, but it was not until the ninth attempt that they succeeded. This painting, pictured here, was shown at St. Botolph Club in Boston and caused a stir in the community. Her husband asked after this first showing that the painting not be shown again until after his death. Isabella complied with her husband's wishes, but was said to have loved the painting.

Sargent and Isabella continued their friendship for many years, and he painted her again in 1920. The second painting that Sargent did of Isabella was quite different from her first though because of her failing health. This painting was done in watercolors after Isabella has suffered a debilitating stroke. "As if in a closing statement to their thirty-four year friendship, Sargent painted his dear friend in what you might think to be a most unflattering point in a person's life, but it stand out tender with adoring kindness and is most telling of his heartfelt affection that speaks volumes beyond any of his letters to her." I believe for a woman to show herself in this light was inspired. Isabella could have been afraid to be seen by her peers when so unhealthy.

Isabella was said to have enjoyed traveling all over the world with her husband. Her travels took her all through Europe and she was in contact with artists from all over. "Over three decades, Isabella Stewart Gardner traveled the world and worked with important art patrons and advisors Bernard Berenson and Okakura Kakuzo to amass a remarkable collection of master and decorative arts." Her collection of art was specifically designed to represent her interpretation of art. She opened her own museum in 1903 on January 1st for a select group of members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was not opened up to the public until later that year, and people were charged a general admission of $1. The building that her museum was built in was restored and changed over the years to her specific standards. She wanted each of the rooms to go with the collection that would be showcased in it, and remodeled them accordingly.

Her legacy in the art world will continue to live on through this museum which is to this day an exact collection. "Her will created an endowment of $1 million and outlined stipulations for the support of the Museum, including that the permanent collection not be significantly altered." The museum to this day has been kept in the style that Isabella wanted. Her collection has not been broken up except for paintings that were stolen in March 1990. Many pieces of art were stolen from her museum whose value was estimated at around $300 million. It was in 2002 that the museum welcomed their first "Scholar-in-Residence". The museum celebrated its centennial celebration in 2003-2004.

Among the collection at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are the works done of Isabella. Both of Sargent's paintings are presented in the museum the 1888 portrait on the 3rd floor in the Gothic Room, and Mrs. Gardner in White on the 1st floor in the Macknight Room. Another painting was done of Isabella by artist Anders Zorn which is known as Isabella Stewart Gardner in Venice. This painting is kept on the 2nd floor in the Short Gallery. The painting was inspired when Isabella went out onto the balcony during a dinner party and turned back to the group to tell them about the stars. The painting is of Isabella standing in the doorway of the balcony that evening.

Isabella was a lady before her time because of her nickname, Mrs. Jack, and her actions in the community. She attended baseball games being a big fan of the Boston Red Sox, even wearing her apparel to high society gatherings. She traveled the world with her husband who was considered the most eligible bachelor. "Snubbed by the locals because of her "catch" to Jack Gardner, the most eligible bachelor in Boston, Gardner still managed to retain her identity, often scandalizing the local press because she did not conform to the restraining Victorian code of conduct. She instead chose to live