Middle Age Crazy
High atop a hill at the northern tip of Manhattan Island stands the Cloisters, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum devoted to the art of the middle ages. Constructed in the early 20th century, the fortress-like building was inspired by medieval structures. The setting, structure and core of the collection were gifts from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to the people of New York.
This building incorporates chapels, halls, rooms and architectural elements from Europe. The ancient stone portals, windows, columns and fountains allow many of the items on display to be shown in settings similar to their original situations. Visitors don't simply view a wooden crucifix hanging against a white gallery wall; they see it displayed in a stone chapel, illuminated by sunbeams streaming through stained glass windows.
The museum also features three enclosed gardens, including an herb garden containing more than 250 species that were grown during the Middle Ages. The plants, grown in beds and large pots, are grouped by their intended use: household, medicinal, aromatic, kitchen and seasoning, salads and vegetables, plants used by artists, magic plants, those associated with love and marriage.
The most famous work in the Cloisters is the Unicorn Tapestries, a series of Belgian textiles portraying a party of nobles hunting and capturing the mythical creature. The collection also includes stained-glass windows, metalwork, sculpture, painting, liturgical miniatures, enamels, jewelry and of course, cloisters. 
Main entrance 
Lion wall fountain 
Doorway to a courtyard 
Butterfly in herb garden 
Dragon fresco 
Lion fresco 
Carved ivory 
Miniature ivory carving 
Cross shadow 
Red columns 
The Unicorn is Found 
The Unicorn Leaps Out of the Stream 
The Unicorn at Bay 
The Start of the Hunt 
The Unicorn in Captivity 
Window in gothic hall 
Swabian stained glass panel of groom 
Swabian stained glass panel of bride 
A seat in the shade 
Bonnefort Cloister on lower level 
Espaliered pear tree 
Exterior at closing time
posted by annulla @ 8/12/2006 10:04:00 PM
6 comments
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6 Comments:
fabulous pictures, that pear tree is amazing!
Was just scrolling through the Chit-Chat forum and came upon your link. Will bookmark your site for future reading.
Those photos are beautiful! I'd always wondered about the Cloisters and now I want to go.
Beautiful photos, how do you manage to post so many in one blog entry? I see the Picasa icon, haven't worked out how to use that yet.
Have heard about The Cloisters, didn't realise it had those lovely tapestries. You MUST visit the Musée du Moyen-Age in Paris with the Lady and the Unicorn set.
To answer your question in ChitChat, maybe you have to say something really outrageous to get people to comment!
(silentmiaouw)
Wish I knew what to comment - just know that I enjoy your entries and have it bookmarked. I'm disappointed when I come back to visit and there are no new entries!
The Unicorn in Captivity always gives me the saddest feeling.
I love your blog, but it also leaves me sad that there is so much there that I'm missing and will never get to see for myself! ;-)
I didn't know you had a blog or I would have bookmarked it way back. I love seeing a place through the eyes of someone who knows and loves it
I am SO impressed, your photos are fantastic, I am a "baby" blogger only started last month, and am still trying to get the hang of it technically, and to find a tone of voice that I think is right.
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