The life of Boston’s arts patroness typifies the lives of many of the wealthy and cultured Americans who lived during the Gilded Age of American history.  We will explore the details of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s life, friends, travels and collections.  She broke all kinds of rules while setting up her museum but perhaps we can understand this when we read her personal motto “It is my pleasure.”  She arranged things the way she wanted with relationships between objects that may at first escape us.  What is left for us is to marvel at the space she created and filled with beautiful things.

Mary C. Woodward has spent more than 40 years in the museum and historic home business, having earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees in Art History.  She has worked at large, comprehensive collections such as the Cleveland Museum of Art and tiny properties like the 17th century log cabin that was the birthplace of President James K. Polk.  Each opportunity has been an interesting and memorable experience.

Since moving to Massachusetts in 2010, Mary has worked at The Old Manse in Concord, MA, the Concord Museum and now Historic New England, previously as Lead Guide at the Gropius House in Lincoln and currently as Lead Guide at the Winslow Crocker House in Yarmouth Port.  For six years, she established and managed the Gallery at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, an exhibition space for local artists.  In the last few years, she’s enjoyed taking art history talks on the road to various libraries and retirement communities.  When she’s not at work, she’s in her yard, pretending to garden. 

Registration is required for this virtual event.

"Beyond the Library" and Cary Library's museum pass program is sponsored by the Friends of Cary Library.  Cary Library has 23 discounted passes to a variety of wonderful places.

In collaboration with Ashland Public Library, Needham Public Library, Newton Free Library, Norwood Public Library, Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, Randall Library (Stowe), and Thomas Crane Library (Quincy).