The dual purpose of The Cloisters, its landscaping, gardens, and architecture is to provide a rare point of interest in the design of Fort Tryon Park, and also house and display the various collection of Medieval Art.
The building of The Cloisters was not copied from medieval building but rather was developed around architectural elements dating from the twelfth to the fifteenth century from the cloisters of five French monasteries- Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Bonnefont-en-Comminges, Trie, and Froville.
It is quite a thrilling experience. Seeing The Cloisters first hand by walking through it and its gardens is a special event. It’s a nice time for anyone regardless of an interest in medieval art.
From the highest point in Manhattan, Fort Tryon Park, The Cloisters dominate the surrounding area. Its main tower can be seen from 20 blocks away. It's a serene spot, a great location for retreat, for reflection or with a loved one and a beautiful view of New Jersey across the Hudson River.
It's fun to ride up there on a bicycle. We went to the top and carried our bikes the extra few steps up to view New Jersey from one of the benches there. Later we pedaled down to the Cloisters entrance. Unfortunately there are no racks to secure your two-wheelers. I chained mine to a large chain railing, but actually wasn't too concerned about the safety of my vehicle.
The Cloisters is a great place to learn about Medieval Art. My date thought it was entertaining and romantic, and after touring the main halls, we purchased some interesting music CDs and books from the gift shop.
In 1925 John D. Rockefeller, Jr., presented to The Metropolitan Museum of Art a sum of money with which to purchase and maintain the collection of medieval sculpture and architectural material assembled by George Grey Barnard and since 1914 open to the public in a brick structure built especially for it on Fort Washington Avenue.
The Barnard collection is thought to be the largest of its kind. The way it was brought together and its display is a rare feat. Large sections of the cloisters of the long abandoned, ruined monasteries of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Sait-Guilhem-le-Desert, Bonnefont-en-Comminges, and Trie formed the nucleus of a collection in which there had been brought together such notable pieces of medieval sculpture as the tomb effigy of Jean d'Alluye, a Romanesque torso of the crucified Christ, wooden figures of Mary and John from a thirteenth-century Crucifixion group, and numerous statues of the Virgin from the Ile-de-France and Lorraine.
The picture from a museum brochure cannot be compared to the experience of viewing these art pieces up close. If you like sculpture or painting, stained glass, or weaving, then there is something for you at The Cloisters. The fascination is that these art works are essentially religious in nature, but also possess a deep sense of expressive value and integrity which transcends the spiritual impetus of the original artistic inspiration.
In 1926 the collection was rearranged and the building reopened as a branch of the Metropolitan Museum and called the Cloisters. Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller added some forty more sculptures from their private collection, and two years later Mr. Rockefeller presented the great tomb of Count Armengol VII.
In June 1930 Mr. Rockefeller presented to the City the high land overlooking the Hudson which is now Fort Tryon Park, he reserved the northern hilltop for a new and larger Cloisters museum, the design of which he entrusted to Charles Collens of the firm Allen, Collens, and Willis of Boston.
Of the many attractions in the Cloisters there are the Spanish thirteenth-century Adoration group from Cerezo de Riotiron and the frescos from the chapter house of the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza; the chapter house from the twelfth-century French abbey at Pontaut; the great sculptured doorway from the thirteenth-century French abbey at Moutiers-Saint-Jean; and a magnificent fourteenth-century statue of the Virgin and Child from the Ill-de-France. Among its other highlights are the beautiful flower and herb gardens, with more than 250 species of plants grown in the Middle Ages.
Also at the Cloisters one can view finely illuminated manuscripts such as the Belles Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry; splendid goldsmiths' work including the painted enamel silver, and silver gilt 'Ape Beaker'; brilliant jewel-like stained glass; and one of the earliest known complete sets of playing cards (ca.1470-85).
But of all the works in the Cloisters the most famous are the fifteenth-century Flemish tapestries depicting the Hunt of the Unicorn- the outstanding set of Gothic tapestries in this country. What's special is that the gardens at The Cloisters have some of the flora that one can see depicted in the Unicorn Tapestries.
Museum Hours
Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-5:15 (March-October).
Tuesday-Sunday 9:30-4:45 (November-February).
Closed every Monday, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Admission
$10.00 suggested for adults;
$5.00 for seniors & students (includes admission to The Metropolitan Museum of Art main building the same day).
Free to members of the Metropolitan Museum and children under 12 with an adult.
The Gift shop has a wide selection, including books, jewelry, and CDs, many of which are specific to the Cloisters.
Group Visits
For info regarding group visits & lectures call 212-650-2280.
Accessibility
There is limited access for mobility impaired visitors. Call in advance or check with security officer at entrance for info upon arrival.
Directions
By Subway, take the A train to 190th Street (Overlook Terrace), exit station by the elevator, and follow Margaret Corbin Drive or take M4 Bus one stop to the museum.
By Bus, take the M4 (Ft. Tryon Park- The Cloisters) to the last stop.
By Automobile, take the Henry Hudson Parkway north to first exit after George Washington Bridge (Ft. Tryon Park). There is free parking available.
Saturdays at the Cloisters feature lectures, presented at Noon, and 2:00 PM, unless otherwise specified, and are free with museum admission. Every week offers a new lecture. Some past lectures have been ''Water and Its Symbolism in the Middle Ages'' by Sigrid Goldiner; ''The Role of Saints in Medieval Art'' by Leslie Bussis Tait; and ''The House of France in The Cloisters'' by Lindsay M. Koval. No advance reservations are necessary. Groups of ten or more cannot be accommodated due to limited space at the museum. For more info call 212-650-2280.
There are also special gallery talks by college interns August 14-17 at 10:30. Free with Museum admission. Meet in the Main Hall.
New features at the museum
The Cloisters Audio Guide lets visitors to the museum listen to discussions on more than 70 works of art and architecture and hear about the Museum, Medieval Art and Culture, and the gardens. General public $5.00; Members $4.50.
If you get hungry looking at all the art, you can get a snack at the Trie Café, located in the covered walkway surrounding the Trie Cloister. Visitors can enjoy continental breakfast, a light lunch, or dessert during Museum hours from May to October.
The Cloisters
Fort Tryon Park
New York, NY 10040
212-932-3700
