The Cloisters

Sacred art and architecture form a special part of Catholic culture.  An exceptional period of innovation in devotional art took place in Western Europe during the Middle Ages.  While medieval shrines and monasteries can still be found throughout Europe, there is nothing quite comparable in the New World though new buildings have risen as honorable imitations of the originals.

One unique place to see real medieval architecture outside of Europe is The Cloisters, a special branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art overlooking the Hudson River.  Chapels, chapter rooms, and cloisters were purchased in Europe, dismantled, and reassembled in New York City as sections of a 20^th century design to unite them into a single building dedicated to medieval art. In addition to the architecture and medieval gardens, the museum contains statues, triptychs, tapestries, manuscripts, sacred vessels and various items of devotion.  This museum is an outstanding collection of the art and architecture of Catholic culture.  Below are links in order to learn more about making a visit, as well as a selection of the many videos of guided tours and recent lectures made by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for those who cannot visit in person.

To learn about visiting The Cloisters click here.

The Medieval Garden Enclosed, a blog following the museum’s medieval gardens and vintage plants  http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/