Frequently Asked Questions about DeCordova
Q: Where can I eat at DeCordova?
A: The Café @ DeCordova serves hearty soups, fine sandwiches, a variety of hot and cold beverages, and gourmet treats. It is open Tuesday 12 to 3pm (Coffee bar and light lunch only) and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm throughout the year. More information is available at The Café section on this site.
Q: How big is the Sculpture Park?
A: The Sculpture Park, which abuts Flint's Pond, the reservoir for the Town of Lincoln, spreads out over 35 square acres. Some 75 sculptures are installed on the grounds at any given time, though pieces rotate in and out on a periodic basis. Some works are on temporary loan, while others the Museum owns outright. The Sculpture Park section contains detailed information about the artists and artworks.
Q: May I touch the artwork in the Museum?
A: No, unless it is specifically labeled otherwise, the artwork in the Museum can't be touched by visitors. Touching can damage the artwork in a variety of ways: the oils in human skin are damaging to certain materials; dirt and oil on hands can make a work of art dirty; and rubbing or bumping a piece of art can jar and possibly break it.
Q: Can I take photographs in the Museum?
A: No. Photography is not allowed in the Museum unless it has been specifically authorized. Flash photography is damaging to art. Furthermore, the Museum displays many copyrighted works, and any photograph taken of them (even a snapshot) is a violation of copyright.
Q: How did Julian de Cordova make his money?
A: Starting in business at age 16 with a New York-based tea broker, Julian de Cordova soon established himself as a successful businessman, trading more than three million dollars worth of tea by the time he was 21. He married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Dana, daughter of Thomas Dana, one of Boston's most prominent wholesale grocers, and entered his father-in-law's business. Upon Thomas' death, Julian assumed the management of Lizzie's $340,000 trust fund, which he quickly doubled through his savvy investments. In 1893, Julian became president of the Union Glass Company in Somerville, MA, which excelled in the manufacture of glass doorknobs and European-inspired art glass. Under his command, profits grew from $60,000 per year to $400,000. About DeCordova offers more historical information on Julian and the Museum.
Q: What became of the de Cordova's original collection?
A: Julian traveled extensively around the world, accompanied by his wife and, on occasion, her mother. On these tours he bought art objects, a common pastime of those of his age and his station in life. However, while others were collecting masterpieces, Julian was attracted to "glittery knick-knacks" (as one art expert later described the collection). His purchases ranged from cuneiform inscriptions through Chinese screens to reproduction Italian paintings. Much of the original collection was sold after Julian's death; the glass artifacts went to The Jones Museum of Glass and Ceramics in Sebago, Maine. About DeCordova offers more historical information on Julian and the Museum.
Q: So how did the Museum come to specialize in contemporary art?
A: It was Julian's intention that his home become a public art museum upon his death. After the sale of his collection, however, there were obvious problems: What would the Museum exhibit, now that it had no artwork? It was at this time (1950) that the original Trustees decided to make DeCordova a museum of contemporary art, as no other museum in the region was devoted to its collection and exhibition. About DeCordova offers more historical information on Julian and the Museum.
Q: Who built this building?
A: The older part of the building (3rd floor and up) was built, rebuilt, and added on to by a variety of individuals in the earlier part of this century. The plan for the original half was conceived by Julian, and represents a confluence of medieval, Gothic, and Norman styles. Architect John Quincy Adams designed the extensive renovations that transformed the de Cordova mansion into a public museum.
The later addition to the building (including the Linde galleries, and all of the first and second floors) was completed in March of 1998 and doubled the indoor exhibition space to 28,000 square feet. It was designed by the architecture firm Kallman, McKinnell, and Wood, which also designed City Hall in Boston. About DeCordova offers more historical information on the Museum.
Q: Why is DeCordova charging admission to the Sculpture Park? Isn’t it a free public park?
A: The Sculpture Park is not a public park subsidized by municipal, state, or federal funding. DeCordova is a private, independent, non-profit institution; and our sculptures, buildings, grounds, and all other components of the campus require funding for constant upkeep. We receive that funding from donations, admissions, grants, and other sources. The Park is, in reality, an outdoor gallery, into which DeCordova has invested as many resources and as much planning as any curated indoor exhibition. The artworks are integral to the landscape and help create that overall feeling that visitors have come to enjoy.
