The Landscape Architect’s Guide to

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Courtyard

Your Guide

As one of Boston's most engaging stories, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is still making headlines today. Established in 1903, this museum's exquisite courtyard is surrounded by an engaging collection of priceless art and Venetian-inspired architecture. The garden is the heart of the museum and can be seen from nearly every corner of the main house. The lush plant life is a spectacle to be seen throughout the seasons as it is bathed in light by the courtyard's high glass ceiling.

The original museum was designed by architect Willard T. Sears. A recent expansion was completed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Ron Henderson, FASLA, L+A.

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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Isabella Gardner loved to travel and was a great patron of the arts. The museum was built to emulate the city she loved most -- Venice, Italy.

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Original Entrance

The original entrance to the museum is flanked by two lion statues. There are rumors that Mrs. Gardner had a pet lion.

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Renzo Piano Addition

The Gardner Museum opened its new wing, designed by Renzo Piano, in 2012.

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The New and the Old

Renzo Piano’s design next to the original Italian-style museum.

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The Interior Courtyard

A small, lush courtyard, it is filled with a variety of plant life and art collected by Gardner. The entrance is flanked by another pair of lions.

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Greek Sculpture

The courtyard features many Greek statues that Mrs. Gardner collected from her travels in Europe.

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Tendrils

As important and carefully selected as the statues are the plants featured in the courtyard.

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Blooming

The courtyard plants are specifically grown for the museum and are held in a nursery in the new addition.

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A Toad

A stone toad is nestled in front of the water fountain.

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The Maenad

The water fountain is overlooked by a relief of a maenad, which is one of a series of eight, the rest of which are in a museum in Rome. A maenad is a female follower of the god Bacchus.

Image: Siena Scarff