Three Visionary Women/Three Great Museums

What does a woman do when she is born to great privilege, has enormous wealth, loves to travel to faraway places, and has a healthy dose of intellectual curiosity? 

Well, she collects art of course! And then she must envision a place to exhibit her treasures so that the world can appreciate her passion. 

This talk will examine the lives of three remarkable women who defied society’s expectations: Isabella Stewart Gardner, Helene Kröller-Müller, and Peggy Guggenheim. 

Speaker Janet Mandel  will trace the steps each took to amass three of the most important collections of art in the world and how they built the museums to hold their treasures. And you will see some amazing paintings, too.  Come along on the journey!

Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and world languages and cultures. Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.

The program is open to all and no registration is needed.

It is made possible with the support of the Friends of the Livingston Public Library.