Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

by Jen Parrish of Parrish Relics

(Renzo Piano designed extention ~ photograph by Nic Lehoux)

I recently visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, one of my favorite places for Art and dreaming in Boston. I was a bit nervous about seeing the new wing for the first time, not being a big fan of modern Architecture and having very mixed feelings about changing a place so close to my heart. I loved it just the way it was, and wondered if Isabella would feel the same.

I went during the Gardner After Hours experience in February, and was happily surprised that the new wing didn't detract too much from the magic of the old space. A new glass corridor lined with trees outside that got closer together as you get nearer the entrance of the Palace cloister made the transition an interesting one.

Drinking Bellini cocktails and enjoying live music flowing from the courtyard makes you feel magically transported to Venice for an evening. The tapestry room was restored beautifully, many pieces that were obscured by the stage are now in full view and made it well worth the trip. Will go soon again during the daytime to explore the new building further, but it was wonderful to revisit this Boston treasure that I had missed so much while under construction.