November 20th, 2008 – Divine Comedy
At the Gardner, we’re just wild about Dante – visionary and poet of the many themes of love, passion, faith, and the folly of man. It was the rare books penned by Dante that first inspired Isabella to start collecting art. Explore themes of love in the special exhibition The Triumph of Marriage and see how a contemporary artist interprets Dante in a special After Hours PLUS program.
- Courtyard Sounds: Soak in the sounds of experimental violinist Emil Altschuler (5:30 to 8:30PM)
- Gallery Travels: Isabella Gardner collected early Dante manuscripts early on in her collection and regularly attended Dante lectures at Harvard by her friend and Dante Scholar Charles Elliot Norton. Discover these rare manuscripts in the Long Gallery and other collection highlights that speak to her interest in books and learning.
- Viewfinder: Explore the art of marriage with Viewfinder talks throughout the evening in the Triumph of Marriage special exhibition gallery. And listen in on ongoing discussions about John S. Sargent’s famous portrait of Isabella Gardner (5:30 to 8:30PM)
- Sketching in the Galleries: Create your own masterpieces with drawing in the cloisters and galleries (6 to 9PM)
- Artful Flavors: Indulge in the culinary arts, signature cocktails including the all-new Madame Gautreau, and more at the courtside bar and Gardner Café.
After Hours PLUS
November 20, 2008, 7:00pm - Joan Jonas: Reading Dante
Legendary performance artist Joan Jonas invites friends to read selected text from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Reading Dante is part of a growing cycle of work, composed of footage shot in Canada, New York, Mexico City, London, and now Boston.
More about this performance
In preparation for the 2008 Biennale of Sydney, Australia, Joan Jonas began a new work cycle called Reading Dante, based on fragments from Dante’s Inferno and Paradiso and composed of footage shot in Canada, New York, Mexico City, and London. And, now, Boston: Jonas has invited friends, including children, to the Gardner to read select portions of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Since the early 1960s, Jonas has been central to the very concept of performance art, linking together her studies in theater, dance, and cinema to produce live performances and single-channel video works. Jonas lives in New York and teaches at MIT in Boston.
Tickets
After Hours Tickets (Includes admission to After Hours Plus)
Members: free | Adults: $12 | College Students: $5
Buy Now

Order by Phone
Box Office: 617 278 5156
Tickets also on sale at the door, subject to availability.
Artful Flavors @ After Hours
Artful culinary offerings are also being served up After Hours! Indulge in all-new specialty cocktails and snacks at The Courtside Bar adjoining the interior garden, or sit down for dinner and drinks at the award-winning The Gardner Café featuring a full menu of sweet and savory dishes to fulfill your culinary, as much as your cultural, appetites!
The Courtside Bar
Indulge in “Courtside Cocktails” and all-new “Courtside Bites” offerings at a Courtside Bar adjacent to the interior garden, open 5:30 to 9:15 pm. “Courtside Cocktails” include “THE MADAME GAUTREAU” (an all-new specialty cocktail inspired by one of Isabella Gardner’s favorite paintings), along with wine, beer, and non-alcoholic alternatives. And a changing array of “Courtside Bites” (available for just $1) will adequately sustain you to explore the galleries and art activities that await.
The Courtside Bar accepts cash and all major credit cards.
View full “Courtside Cocktails” and “Courtside Bites” menu offerings
“COURTSIDE COCKTAILS”
THE MADAME GAUTREAU $8.00
THE MADAME GAUTREAU (non-alcoholic version) $4.00
After Hours signature cocktail
A refreshing and harmonious specialty cocktail – sparkling wine, a blend of grapefruit and pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine – the perfect toast for a summer evening!
The Madame Gautreau cocktail is named for John Singer Sargent’s painting, Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast (1882-83) – one of Isabella Gardner’s favorites – depicting the ravishing beauty, charm and vitality of Paris socialite Virginie Avegno (“Madame X”). Indulge in this all-new specialty cocktail alongside the court; and then go pay Madame Gautreau herself a visit in the nearby Blue Room gallery!
| Wine |
$8.00 |
| Beer | Stella Artois |
$6.00 |
| Sparkling and still water |
$2.00 |
| Variety of juices |
$2.00 |
“COURTSIDE BITES”
New this year, creative snacks will also be offered up at the Courtside Bar for $1. “Courtside Bites” offerings will vary each month, and range from a Japanese rice cracker mix to spiced nuts and dried fruit and served up in an artful paper box.
Courtside Bites $1.00
Offerings differ each month.
The Gardner Café
The Gardner Café is also open during After Hours, serving up sweet and savory dishes, cocktails and other culinary offerings from 5:30 to 9 pm. Tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are available for museum members only by calling 617 566 1088.
View full The Gardner Café menu offerings
Food Menu
| Fresh Local Corn Soup - hot pepper oil |
$6.00 |
| Simple Salad & Cheese Plate - three varieties & sourdough toast |
$12.00 |
| Housemade Country Pork Pate - grain mustard & watercress |
$12.00 |
| Feta & Sweet Onion Quiche - baby lettuce & sherry vinaigrette |
$12.00 |
| Fennel Dressed Seafood Salad |
- calamari, mussels, smoked shrimp, & green apple |
$14.00 |
| Chicken Schnitzel - arugula salad & walnut vinaigrette |
$13.00 |
| Campanelle Pasta - Italian sausage, butternut squash, & sage |
$13.00 |
| Roast Atlantic Salmon - eggplant caponata & balsamic vinegar |
$14.00 |
| Cod Cake - cucumber & tarragon salad |
$14.00 |
Drinks Menu
Sparking Cocktails |
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| Mimosa - sparkling wine, orange juice |
$8.00 |
THE MADAME GAUTREAU
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sparkling wine, grapefruit/ pineapple juices, grenadine |
$8.00 |
| After Hours signature cocktail |
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(non-alcoholic: |
$4.00) |
– A refreshing and harmonious specialty cocktail, the perfect toast for a summer evening! |
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The Madame Gautreau cocktail is named for John Singer Sargent’s painting, Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast (1882-83) – one of Isabella Gardner’s favorites – depicting the ravishing beauty, charm and vitality of Paris socialite Virginie Avegno (“Madame X”). Enjoy this all-new specialty cocktail; then go pay Madame Gautreau herself a visit in the nearby first-floor Blue Room gallery. |
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Wine |
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St. Michael-Eppan - pinot grigio |
$8.00/$32.00 |
Santa Ema - sauvignon blanc |
$7.50/$30.00 |
Domaine Talmard - chardonnay |
$8.00/$32.00 |
| Domaine Celestin Blondeau - sancerre |
$32.00/half bottle |
| Alex Gambal - Bourgogne (chardonnay) |
$65.00/bottle |
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| Finca Antigua - merlot |
$7.50/$30.00 |
Bodega Norton - cabernet sauvignon |
$8.00/$32.00 |
Viticcio - chianti |
$8.00/$32.00 |
Chateau Lyonnat - lussac – saint emilion |
$21.00/half bottle |
Alex Gambal - bourgogne (pinot noir) |
$50.00/bottle |
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Beer |
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Amstel Light (Holland) |
$4.25 |
| Harpoon I.P.A (Boston) |
$4.25 |
| Stella Artois (Belgium) |
$4.25 |
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| Soda, Juice, and Water |
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Pellegrino Sparkling Water/Panna Mineral Water |
$4.00 |
Coca Cola/Diet Coke |
$2.50 |
| Ginger Ale/Rootbeer |
$2.50 |
| Lemonade |
$2.50 |
Orange Juice/Cranberry Juice |
$2.75 |
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Premium Loose-Leaf Tea and Coffee |
Iced Black Tea/Iced Seven Herb Pomegranate Tea |
$3.00 |
| Coffee/Decaffeinated Coffee |
$2.50 |
| HOT TEA |
$3.50 |
English Breakfast ~ breakfast style black tea
Blue Flower Earl Grey ~ black tea flavored with bergamot oil and blue cornflower petals
Jasmine ~ China green tea infused with Jasmine flowers
Moroccan Mint ~ green tea with a balanced addition of organic peppermint
Ginger Lemon ~ cut ginger root, linden flower, and lemon grass
Rooibos ~ Red Bush herbal tea from South Africa blended with orange and vanilla |
The Gardner Cafe accepts cash and all major credit cards.
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Reminders &
Special Offers |
By email:
By text message:
Text "Gardner" to 22122 from your cell phone for special discounts and offers |
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| Connect / Share |
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“Before & After” Year Two
Recent Headlines:
* Gardner After Hours Returns for Year Two!
“Before & After” Year One
Year One Headlines:
* Garden of Earthly Delights
* More on Mahanthappa
* Mrs. Gardner Abroad
* More on Magnus |
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| FREE for Members! |
After Hours Membership Offer - Join the Gardner Museum today to enjoy free admission to all ten After Hours events – plus unlimited museum access, invitations to members-only exhibition previews and events, discounts on tickets for concerts and at the Museum Shop, and more! Contact the membership office today and mention After Hours to receive a special $10 off all new memberships. Or join at an After Hours event and receive $10 off your new membership, plus a free poster by artist Danijel Zezelj as a welcome gift from us. Then visit us again and again for free – After Hours or anytime! |
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