An Artist Date at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

A Visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

There are moments when nature hints at renewal~buds forming, bulbs pushing through the earth—only to retreat again. During one such pause between seasons, I found myself craving beauty, color, and inspiration. So I packed up and took a small road trip with a friend to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

Art, Mystery, and the Spirit of Isabella Stewart Gardner

I had long heard whispers of this remarkable place, but my curiosity deepened after reading The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. The novel introduced me to Isabella Stewart Gardner’s unconventional spirit and the enduring mystery of the museum’s infamous 1990 art heist, when thirteen works were stolen by thieves disguised as Boston police. Those works have never been recovered, and their empty frames still hang in the galleries~a quiet, haunting gesture of hope and remembrance.

Beyond the mystery, Isabella’s collection itself is captivating. Her art reflects a love of people and humanity, with portraits of friends, family, and contemporaries that feel intimate and alive. I especially admired the creative ways she displayed her drawings—mounted on the fronts and backs of old doors that could be leafed through, offering a quiet, tactile way to experience them.

Little nooks throughout the museum invite you to slow down and truly contemplate individual works, including those whose frames now hang empty. Isabella’s thoughtful displays of vintage objects and small collections with her paintings add layers of narrative and discovery, making each corner feel personal and meditative.

Her passions were vast—horticulture, music, travel, books—and every corner of the museum reflects that curiosity. Leaving the museum, I felt inspired by her dedication to collecting and honoring art in all its forms.

"Years ago, I decided that the greatest need in our country was art. We were a very young country and had very few opportunities to see beautiful things, works of art. So I was determined to make it my life’s work if I could."
~Isabella Stewart Gardner

The beautiful courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

A Garden at the Heart of the Museum

While the mystery adds intrigue, what captured my heart most was the museum’s breathtaking Victorian courtyard garden. Designed to be viewed from every level of the museum, the garden is a living work of art—layered with light, sculpture, and carefully tended plantings. It offers a rare stillness in the middle of the city, a place to pause, breathe, and contemplate.

Seasonal Beauty and the Art of Horticulture

The garden is continually renewed with the seasons, its flowers grown specifically for this space in the museum’s greenhouses. I was especially moved to learn that Isabella Stewart Gardner was deeply devoted to horticulture—and that she was the first American woman to graduate with a degree in the field. She understood the power of nature as an essential part of artistic life. For her, the garden was not decoration—it was vision, rhythm, and soul. You can learn more about the garden here.

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.”
~May Sarton

How Gardens Influence My Creative Work

The visit stayed with me in a quiet way. The light, the calm, and the gentle order of the garden seemed to awaken something like the first stirrings of spring. Back in the studio, I worked with a renewed sense of energy and openness. You can see more of my paintings and works on paper here.

An Invitation to Wander and Wonder

I’m always curious about the places that leave a lasting imprint. If you have a favorite garden or museum that has stirred your creativity, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Sending you a sense of discovery and a hint of beauty wherever you are.

With love,
Laura

This visit quietly shaped the work unfolding in my studio. You can explore more paintings and works in progress inspired by places like this here.

*This post was originally written several years ago and has been updated with fresh images and reflections.