Saturday, August 13, 2011

The Cloisters - NYC


I just came home from an amazing mini vacation with my friend Polly in New York City.
Our first stop was The Cloisters which is a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to art and architectural elements from the 12th - 15th century. I have been wanting to go for years so this was a very special visit.


Amazing carved faces, dragons, animals, devils, everywhere you looked.


A carving of Clovis, first Catholic King of Gaul (France) below.



The Spanish crucifix above is from around 1150 AD.


Beautiful fountain in the cloister garden above.
Below are reliquaries. These head sculptures were made to hold the skulls of saints.
You can see the lady on the right also has a round pendant that would hold some other bone



The painting above is part of the Annunciation Triptych and was created in The Netherlands around 1427AD. I can't get over how vibrant the colors are after so many hundreds of years.

The painting below depicts the Archangel Michael stabbing the Antichrist.
I have never seen the devil portrayed in a creepier way.







I finally got to see "The Unicorn in Captivity".
It was so amazing in person, you can't believe the detail.
This famous tapestry inspired my Painted Pony, The Unicorn's Garden.


Poor unicorn...



I love the shot below of my friend Polly. A true friend, she held my camera bag the whole time while I was photographing all I could.


A view of the George Washington Bridge from our parking space.


A young robin outside of The Cloisters.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Stunning photos again Jen. I didn't know the Unicorn tapestries were in NYC and how cool that you were able to see them in person.

~ Deb

Studio at the Farm said...

Thank you, Jennifer, for the photo tour - love the medieval decorative architecture.

Unknown said...

Have not been hee yet, Jen. Magnificent photos. TY for sharing.

Would you be so kind to (& tell your friends) comment on my BLOG ONLY (emails don't count), for the Miracle Makeover fund drive. Charlie, 8 yr. old, & his story are fabulous. Every comment brings us a $1 for the next person that will be sponsored.

Have a beautiful weekend.
Hugs,
TTFN ~
Marydon
blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com

Jennifer Rose said...

i would love to see that tapestry one day, so much detail to see in person :) that looks like such a cool place to spend an afternoon

Sandy Sandy Art said...

Oh Jen - I don't know where to begin! Your trip looks like it was just fabulous! All great pics. Love all the art and history - the dragons, unicorns and flowers! And wow, that devil really IS sinister!

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Oh this was fabulous! It felt like I was there with you. Thanks for sharing these images from your trip - I'd love to see this all in person, too. Maybe next year... :)

Lydia said...

I called my husband to the computer to look at this post with me. On Sept. 1 we will celebrate our 16th anniversary. We were married in NYC in a civil ceremony at the Municipal Building, and afterward our best man took us to The Cloisters as his special gift to us. He showed us where to pick up the bus to take us back to our hotel after we had seen all we wanted to see, and went on his way. We stayed for hours. Your photos bring back such wonderful memories. My husband has a shot of me holding my wedding flowers in one of those alcoves like you took of your friend, in the same sitting position. What fun.
Obviously, I enjoyed this post (and the one of Coney Island, where I spent a day with a friend some years before) so very much.