Mrs. Jack
A Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner
by Louise Hall Tharp
Little, Brown & Company, 1965
Notes by Travis Simpkins
First published over 50 years ago, Louise Hall Tharp's Mrs. Jack is hands down the most entertaining biography I've ever read and remains the definitive text regarding the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924), one of the most fascinating and unique women in American history. The book covers the wide scope of Isabella's adventurous life, from her childhood days in New York to her marriage to Jack Gardner and the tragic death of their infant son, from society gatherings at their 152 Beacon Street townhouse in Boston to their travels in exotic locales all around the world. The events culminate with Isabella's overflowing art collection and the construction of her own museum, Fenway Court, styled as a Venetian palazzo in Boston's Back Bay. Along the way, she attracts and surrounds herself with the great minds of the day, including John Singer Sargent, F. Marion Crawford, Bernard Berenson, Henry James, Anders Zorn, Denis Bunker and James McNeill Whistler. Independent, defiant and ever-inquisitive, Isabella Stewart Gardner's spirit comes to life in these 324 pages that I'm sure I'll be reading again in the coming years. This wonderful book nicely presents the foundation of her legacy, which lives on in her philanthropic pursuits and most notably her glorious namesake museum.
As a young girl, traveling through Europe with her parents, Isabella noted "If I ever have any money of my own, I am going to build a palace and fill it with beautiful things." This she did and so much more.
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Belle and Jack Gardner |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Isabella, 1864 |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Palazzo Barbaro, Venice |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: 152 Beacon Street |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: 152 Beacon Street |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: 152 Beacon Street |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: 152 Beacon Street |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: 152 Beacon Street |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Newspaper |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Green Hill, Brookline |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: F. Marion Crawford |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Portrait by Anders Zorn |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Jack Gardner |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Bernard Berenson |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Portrait by Whistler |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Construction of Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Construction of Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court Music Room |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Newspaper |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: John Singer Sargent |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: John Singer Sargent |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Portrait by John Singer Sargent |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Fenway Court |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Gardner Tomb |
 |
| Mrs. Jack. Biography of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Louise Hall Tharp: Portrait by John Singer Sargent |
