American, Boston
Fenway Court During Construction: Isabella Stewart Gardner on a Ladder, 1900
Gelatin silver print, 9.4 x 9.5 cm (3 11/16 x 3 3/4 in.)
This black and white print depicts Isabella Stewart Gardner, dressed in a long black cloak and hat, standing on a ladder amidst the construction scaffolding of the Museum. To our left, a man stands on the scaffolding and as he braces the ladder for Mrs. Gardner. He is dressed in a fedora, a gray coat and dark pants. To our right is a crouching worker, dressed in a dark shirt and light pants with suspenders. The print is inscribed in pencil on verso: “175/5” and printed on recto, mirrored: “89291”.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.