Isabella Stewart Gardner - Fenway Court During Construction, 1900

Isabella Stewart Gardner (New York, 1840 - 1924, Boston)

Fenway Court During Construction, 1900

Gelatin silver print

Commentary

Isabella contracted architect Willard T. Sears in 1896 to draw up plans for a museum with living apartments above it, to be built on the site of her double house at 150–152 Beacon Street in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. In late 1898, she bought land in the Fenway neighborhood and told Sears to redraw the plans to accomodate the museum's new site. She worked closely with him to perfect the design. When construction began, Isabella continued to closely monitor all aspects of the project and often documented the progress with her Brownie camera.