Isabella Stewart Gardner (det.), John Singer Sargent, 1888, Gothic Room

Welcome Isabellas!

Welcome to the all-things-Isabella page, where you’ll find details about our Isabellas Free…Forever! admission policy, learn about our remarkable founder Isabella Stewart Gardner, and tour “Isabella” highlights from the collection.

 

Isabellas Free…Forever! Museum Card

Isabellas Free… Forever!

Isabellas Free...Forever! provides unlimited free Museum admission to everyone with the first name “Isabella” forever! (See policy details below)

Sign up today! using our online sign up form or email us at isabellas@isgm.org to receive your Isabellas Free… Forever! Museum Card. - And enjoy your museum for years to come.
Isabellas gather in front of the museum

“Calling All Isabellas!”

On April 22, 2009, over 150 Isabellas and their families and friends gathered at the Gardner Museum for a full day of free family fun and activities.

Check out photos of the event on Flikr.com!

Information about next year’s celebration will be available in early 2010.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, interior courtyard garden
 
Isabella Highlights in the Collection

Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her Museum on January 1st, 1903 with a celebratory evening filled with music, art, gardens and a menu of… champagne and donuts. Hers was the first museum of its kind in America, presenting world class art within a highly personal setting and a passion for all the arts.

Her galleries are sprinkled with personal objects, family portraits and installations of art and other objects revealing personal insights into her personality, life and humor. Today, the Museum that bears her name remains a place where people - and particularly Isabellas - can discover intimate connections with art and with the Isabella who created it!
 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum exterior, showing the “Y”-shaped flue
  • A Y-shaped flue is clearly visible on the front of the Museum, over Isabella Gardner's seal and motto, "C'est mon plaisir" (meaning "It is my pleasure"). Isabella often signed her name "Y," in reference to the Spanish form of her name, Ysabella. Tapestry Room sconces also bear the same "Y" symbol.
Titian Room, showing Titian’s Europa and Isabella Stewart Gardner’s Worth fabric
  • Underneath Titian's Europa (1561-1562) hangs a very personal piece of Mrs. Gardner; pale green silk fabric cut from her favorite couture gown. Of the painting, Isabella wrote, "I feel breathless about the Europa! ... Every inch of her is joy!" Underneath, she placed a putto on its side as if it fell right out of the painting.

Mrs. Gardner in Venice, Anders Zorn, 1894, Short Gallery
  • “This is Too Beautiful to Miss!”
    Mrs. Gardner in Venice by Anders Zorn - One of 10 portraits of Mrs. Gardner in the collection, this work truly captures the flair with which Mrs. Gardner lived her life. According to her husband Jack’s 1894 diary, the Gardners and guests were in Venice enjoying an after-dinner concert when Isabella stepped out onto the balcony to watch a fireworks display. Opening the glass doors, she turned back to the company and stood in the archway with outstretched arms and said, “Come out – all of you – this is too beautiful to miss!”


Isabella Stewart Gardner with her dog "Foxy" on the roof of the Gardner Museum (ca. 1910)

 Find out more about Isabella!

About Isabella Stewart GardnerLooking at Isabella's Collection

The Making of Isabella's Museum

POLICY DETAILS

The Isabellas Free…Forever! admissions policy applies to general Museum admission, including access to the permanent collection galleries, current special exhibitions and programming presented free with admission only. Isabellas also receive a 10% discount off of Gardner Museum Shop purchases. Admission to ticketed lectures, concerts and other programs, and general Museum membership benefits, are not included in this offer. For information on becoming a member, visit Membership.

Isabellas Free...Forever! applies to individuals named Isabella only. Being true to our founder, Isabelle and other variations and spellings do not apply.

Isabellas age 18 or over are required to show a valid ID to receive free admission (the Isabellas Free…Forever Museum Card is a promotional card and does not substitute for a valid ID). Isabellas under the age of 18 may, but are not required to, show their Isabellas Free…Forever Museum Card; all visitors under the age of 18 years are admitted for free. Visitors accompanying Isabellas who are 18 years of age and over are not included; regular admission price applies.
Click here for general Museum and admission information.