All those years we lived in Boston (even at one, point not too far from this museum), we never did get here until now. This museum is different from other art museums in so many different ways. First of all, there is no obvious rhyme or reason for why objects and paintings were placed where they are. You would have... more

Many Sundays around 1:30pm there are chamber music recitals at the museum. Ticket price for the concert (which is only a few dollars more than regular admission) includes free admission to the museum. The concerts themselves are truly worth hearing - you will experience a first rate chamber music concert - up close and personal. The concert usually is about... more

I think the ISG museum is often misunderstood. Mrs. Gardner put together a museum at a time when American museums were in their infancy, so it differs significantly from the organization and general feel of the big, modern museums in our major cities. If you go in with the expectation that you're not going to visit an art museum ala... more

Pros: Beautiful museum Cons: Nothing is labeled, very disorganized I took my mother here and have to say it is a beautiful museum and with some improvements it could be a wonderful place to visit. However, as it is now it is a very frustrating place to visit. We started off through the museum and realized quickly that none of... more

This museum is the personal collection of a gifted collector. And the works of art and antiquity are among the finest in the world. I was stunned at the Della Robia altarpiece -- larger and in better condition than any I have seen in Florence, Nice or the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Wandering through the many rooms... more

I've been to most museums of Western Art in the world and this is the worst one. It is too small for the crowds that are allowed in at one time, very dis-organized, very dark, and way over-priced. Stick with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts across the street and avoid this place, it will waste your time. more

What a let down. The moment we walked in, I knew this museum which is more like a mausoleum, was a mistake. Very gloomy and dark. My stomach turned in disappointment over many major issues. The staff are aggressive, almost assaultive, and are everywhere. Treated guests like they were intruders, at the least, they assumed the worst, e.g., that I... more

When I visited the Gardner Museum in Boston, I was fascinated by two things. First, Ms. Gardner arranged all of the objects of art and decreed that none of them could ever be moved. Thus, when 2 famous works of art were stolen, nothing could be put in their place, leaving blank spaces on the walls. Second, she used an... more

This museum was very frustrating. The art is difficult to see and nearly impossible to identify. It's mission seems to be to maintain a monument to Ms. Gardner and her collecting and display philosophies. Ms. Gardner's establishment of the collection and the museum were great public gifts, but the slavish dedication to the time capsule effect of the museum obscures... more