The Cloisters: Medieval Art and Architecture

Metropolitan Museum of Art Series

by Peter Barnet, Nancy Y. Wu

Home to an extraordinary collection of treasured masterworks, including the famed Unicorn Tapestries, The Cloisters is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. This splendid new guide, published to celebrate The Cloisters' seventy-fifth anniversary, richly illustrates and describes the most important highlights of its collection, from paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and exquisitely carved ivories to its monumental architecture evocative of the grand religious spaces and domestic interiors of the Middle Ages. The Cloisters remains a testament to design innovation—a New York City landmark with sweeping views of the Hudson River—featuring original elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture dating from the 12th through the 15th century. Three of the structures enclose beautiful gardens cultivated with species known from tapestries, medieval herbals, and other historic sources. These exotic spaces, the art masterpieces, and the fragrant plants offer visitors an oasis of serenity and inspiration. This book both encapsulates and enhances that experience.

Genres: Art, Architecture, History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Travel, Art History

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Lynn Rainsford · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the medieval art enthusiast....and if you've ever been to the cloisters and loved it.....this book explains where much of the collection came from and what years the artifacts were created. Beautifully photographed, this is a collector's must have.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prettiest museum catalog ever and a wonderful memento of my trip to NY last fall. The Cloisters is a magical experience.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding overview and history of the Cloisters—a branch of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to Medieval art and architecture.

[Martin Herbordt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can’t be at The Cloisters …. This is a standard museum catalog. It contains a short introduction followed by single page descriptions/illustrations devoted to individual pieces. About 180 are so described: from the large, an entire cloister - to the small, game pieces; and from the famous, the unicorn tapestries - to the obscure, an early 10th century plaque from northern Italy. The descriptions also have a unified format: photo, dimensions, artist/region as known, followed by a few paragraphs on observations, context, techniques, and style. The photos are stunning and the text well-crafted. Perhaps what is best is that they are unobtrusive in the sense that they add to the enjoyment of the piece without getting in the way. Because (of course) it is the art itself that is (as it should be) the star of the catalog. And what glorious art it is. Across seven or more centuries and an entire continent and many different art forms from architecture to decoration to devotional pieces to art.

[Frances Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings back happy memories of being in The Cloisters (this museum trip was a high school graduation gift from--and with--my parents.)

[Evenstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite places in New York City is The Cloister Museum, a satellite museum of the MET, located in Fort Tryon Park in the Washington Heights section of Upper Manhattan. I purchased this book there, and it is a lovely reminder of the amazing works of art and architecture I viewed on my excursion. While reading, over and over again I was filled with appreciation for past patrons who rescued historic and precious items from farmer's fields, from stables and abandonment and those who lovingly restored them so that we can now enjoy their majesty and beauty. Turning the pages of The Cloisters: Medieval Art and Architecture was a time travelers glimpse into the past, as the art is arranged chronologically so one can see the unfolding of different styles and materials used. Details of the art, which to the untrained eye might not be recognized, were pointed out in the descriptions, all adding to the appreciation of the item. I didn't purchase this book until I had toured the museum, and in hindsight, I wish I had bought it prior to viewing the artwork, as it would have added greatly to my understanding and appreciation.

[Sharla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't really separate this book from the memories of my visit to the Cloisters in January 2012. The collection is astounding -- and reading the book, about the craftsmanship in the tapestries, carvings, and other pieces found at the Cloisters only reinforced that for me! The fact that parts of medieval monasteries have been incorporated into the Cloisters building should also be noted ... I remember standing in one of the chapels -- a chapel that was probably six or seven hundred years old -- it was quiet and peaceful. This book evokes that memory for me.

[Minette Visser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This museum turned out to be one of my favourites during our trip to the USA, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading up about the artworks that we saw there. Kind of wished I had read it before we went, but then, I didn't know that I was into medieval art - in the past, the medieval rooms were the ones to just quickly glance over on the way to the Renaissance rooms. But presented in reconstructive medieval architecture, the looking at the art became a devotional meditation into values, and what gives meaning to life (the answer to the question that religion poses).

[Stacy Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite places in New York City. The book covers the details of what the collection contains, the origin of items and interesting historical background but I feel let down that the pictures didn't convey the beauty of the Cloisters. I think if done right, it could be a stunning Coffee Table book but many of the photographs in this version just don't do it justice.

[BML · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked out this catalogue ahead of a planned visit to The Cloisters so as to set up expectations, and am awestruck by the quality and quantity of the collection. Images of the exhibits are beautifully reproduced and annotated with generous amount of program notes.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview of the Medieval Art Museum of the Met.

[Matthew Hittinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're ever in NYC and have the chance to go up to the Cloisters, the Medieval branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I highly recommend it.

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing collection. Astounding to think of the history behind these pieces and the craftsmanship.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have liked an over-sized book, but the art is gorgeous and the story of the Cloisters is fascinating.

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

pretty interesting