Among the many objects of fascination in the Macknight Room, a place of personal significance to Isabella, is a fan tanto. Read on to learn more about this unexpected find.

This Mother’s Day, learn about Isabella Stewart Gardner’s beloved grandmother, Isabella Tod Stewart.

A painting from the Italian Renaissance by Piermatteo d’Amelia influenced contemporary Chinese artist Shen Wei.

If you’ve never heard of the color Bardini Blue, you’re not alone. The special hue adorns the Gardner’s Long Gallery and is a customized creation modified by Isabella. Read more about its rich history and restoration below.

While traveling throughout Asia, Isabella acquired three porcelain vessels covered with vine patterns and stylized scriptures. Read how these Chinese artifacts detail Arabic phrases from the central religious text of Islam and give us a greater global perspective.

Ever wonder about the architecture of the Gardner Museum’s Courtyard? Read on to find out how Isabella used windows, balconies, and arches salvaged from grand Venetian palazzos to create her own unique vision.

At the Gardner, cascades of blooming vines appear each spring and inspire artists like Arthur Pope and James Prosek. Learn more about these colorful flowers and how their 100-year history is still a celebrated annual tradition.

An intercontinental friendship between Isabella and a Russian diplomat led to an exchange of exquisite egg-shaped pendants. Read how this unlikely bond yielded a symbolic treasure.

Learn about one of Isabella’s illuminated papal manuscripts and her audience with a pope.