LECTURES

The Barnes Collection and the Gardner Museum were each founded by a strong, unique patron whose personality and ideas about art and art viewing are expressed in the arrangement of their galleries. While the Barnes and the Gardner are often compared, the distinctive arrangement of each museum’s galleries is what sets them apart from one another. Dr. Barnes and Isabella Gardner’s unique approach to arranging their galleries will be explored, beginning with the Gothic Room at the Gardner which contains an enigmatic installation of Christian works of art with the nearly life-size portrait of Gardner by John Singer Sargent. A wine reception will follow around the courtyard.

Part of Room Views: A Series of Conversations About the Gardner Museum
This season's Room Views conversations focus on the idea of The Personal Museum. Isabella Gardner created one of the first personal museums in the United States, establishing a model for the intersection of art and personality that continues to influence collectors and artists today. This series will explore several different examples of the personal museum, from strong-minded collectors like Gardner and Albert Barnes to museums created by contemporary artists. How has the personal museum shaped our view of museums in general, and what we can experience there?