Isabella Stewart Gardner

1 9.1

An American art collector and supporter who founded a museum in Boston

proper noun
/ˌɪzəˈbɛlə ˈstjuːərt ˈɡɑːrdnər/

: Isabella Stewart Gardner

The art collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner remains one of Boston’s premier cultural treasures.

Examples

The art collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner remains one of Boston’s premier cultural treasures.
Many artists and intellectuals of her time admired Isabella Stewart Gardner for her support of the arts.
In 1903, Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her museum to the public, showcasing works from around the world.
Isabella Stewart Gardner was an influential art collector.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a must-visit in Boston.
In 1903, Isabella Stewart Gardner opened her museum to the public, showcasing works from around the world.
Many artists and intellectuals of her time admired Isabella Stewart Gardner for her support of the arts.

Surface Forms

Isabella Stewart Gardner main

Morphology

Isabella + Stewart + Gardner

This is a full proper name referring to a specific historical person (and by extension a museum); the literal name parts 'Isabella', 'Stewart', and 'Gardner' do not indicate her biography or role as an art collector and philanthropist. Proper names are referentially arbitrary across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the individual name tokens would not be able to derive the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Isabella Stewart Gardner was an American art lover who used her money to collect paintings, sculptures and objects and arrange them in a house-like museum. She opened the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and left it to the public, so today her name is linked to being the 'founder' of a famous museum.