Life From The Roots: Jan 8, 2019

The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Isabella Stewart Gardner, Her Courtyard, Paintings, Furnishings in the Palace, Boston, Massachusetts

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

25 Evans Way, Boston, Massachusetts

https://www.gardnermuseum.org/

"March 18 marks the anniversary of a notorious art heist that took place at the Gardner Museum in 1990. #OnThisDay Thirteen works by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Manet were stolen and never recovered. We are sharing images of these masterpieces in the hope that they will eventually return to the museum where they can be shared with the public again. http://bit.ly/2pevaaw" Posted by the Museum on Facebook.

Four floors overlook the Courtyard. The museum is on the first three floors, and you are able to view the Courtyard from all inside rooms. Since it was so warm on our December visit, many of the large windows were open.

Interior Courtyard, in March and December 2018.

First floor hallway above, 2nd floor hallway below.

There are quite a few period rooms, and most of them are listed below, with the name of it. Click on the link (from the museum), and you'll see more details. (From Wikipedia.) The museum has always been a popular tourist attraction. i particularly love it because of its small size, an interesting collection that was placed by Isabella in the locations that now still exist, and the courtyard.

I wouldn't be surprised if many people visit to hear the story of the "single largest property theft in the world," 13 works of art were stolen on March 18, 1990, and have never been found. When you visit, you will see the locations of the paintings, simple to find because the frames are still hanging. To learn about the theft, use the museum website at: https://www.gardnermuseum.org/about/theft.

Yellow Room

Tapestry Room

Eight photos of the Dutch Room are below.

From the information sheet below, you can see there are two desks, each with a framed picture (both were stolen).

From this view, you can see where three paintings once hung. A fourth was behind the second desk on the right.

Self-Portrait, age 23 of Rembrandt. After the robbery, it was found on the floor. It was assumed by some that because it was painted on wood, it was too heavy to carry. Below his portrait above, there is a very small picture frame on the side of the desk. That etching by him was stolen.