The Cloisters: Stepping Back into the Middle Ages

One often associates the time period before the Renaissance being as a time of “darkness” in cultural and artistic development.

However, in the years following the collapse of the Roman Empire up through the beginning of the Renaissance there was in fact a substantial contribution to the arts and architecture. We can look to the building of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the famous mosaics in Ravenna, and gorgeously illuminated manuscripts such as Ireland’s Book of Kells as examples of this movement at work. Indeed, artistic expression continued to flourish contrary to what many might believe.

Situated at the highest point in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan you will find The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. George Grey Barnard (1863-1938) was a sculptor and student of Rodin who made a living in rural France by finding and selling medieval art and building materials from the locals who over the centuries had acquired a substantial number of these items. When he returned to the United States at the beginning of World War I, he opened  a museum to showcase his collection and educate the public about medieval art. With help from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased his collection and the Cloister Museum was built thereafter.

The Unicorn Tapestries. (Photo by Matthew Deming)

Architect Charles Collens designed the building to emulate the styles and medieval architectural proportions. The interior itself was designed by Joseph Breck, who worked on the project until his passing, when James Rorimer took over. The various sections of the museum and the three cloister gardens really transport you back in time. It’s easy to believe that this structure has been there for centuries.

The Cloisters offer a perfect setting for reflection as you meander through the rooms of the museum and gardens. While there are so many wonderful things to see and learn about at the museum, one of the most beautiful are the Unicorn Tapestries donated by Rockefeller. Made from fine wool and silk with silver and gold threads, these panels depict scenes about the hunting of the mythical unicorn. Robert Campin’s Annunciation Triptych or Merode Altarpiece, produced around 1428, is representative of the late Gothic and Early Netherlandish style. Moreover, the stained-glass windows from the castle chapel at Ebreichsdorf are just stunning.

An open-air courtyard garden was created in the Cuxa Cloister Garden; the plantings here encompass species from Asia and the Americas so ensure there are colors and scents for the whole growing season. The Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden boasts plants from emperor Charlemagne’s 9th century list of 89 plants that were meant to be grown on his estates. These are organized by use, as in cooking, medicine, art, practical uses or even magic! The Trie Cloister Garden is gorgeous this time of year, resembling a wild meadow bursting with colors.

In the hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan, and in the often densely attended museums throughout the city, it is refreshing to take the train uptown to Fort Tryon Park and spend a day at the Cloisters Museum. It facilitates an environment which makes you slow down and contemplate the art and artists who lived during the medieval period, an experience everyone should partake in.

For more information: https://www.metmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/met-cloisters