Page 251 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

THE CL OISTERS MUSEUM  249

La Clarté-Dieu Abbey in Medieval Gardens
France, was vandalized, and
the statue was used to bridge More than 300 varieties of
a stream. plants grown in the Middle
In the Boppard Room, the Ages can be found in the
lives of the saints are told in Cloisters’ gardens. The
marvelous late Gothic stained Bonnefont Cloister has many
glass from Germany. species of aromatic, magic,
Robert Campin’s Flemish medicinal, and culinary herbs.
masterwork, the Annunciation The Trie Cloister features plants
shown in the Unicorn Tapestries
altarpiece, is the focus of the and reveals the use of flowers
Campin Room. This is an inti- in medieval symbolism: roses
mate space with furnishings (for the Virgin Mary), pansies
that might have belonged to a (the Holy Trinity), and daisies
wealthy 15th-century family. (the eye of Christ). Bonnefont Cloister
The Tapestries The Treasury
the tapestries are remarkably
The Cloisters’ tapestries are well preserved. They are also In medieval times, precious
full of rich imagery and astonishing in detail, with objects were stored for safe-
symbolism, and are among keeping in sanctuaries. At
the museum’s most highly the Cloisters, they are found
prized treasures. The four in the Treasury.
Nine Heroes Tapestries bear The collection includes
the coat of arms of Jean, several Gothic illuminated
Duc de Berry, who was “books of hours.” These were
a brother of the King of used for the private devotions
France and one of the of the nobility, such as the
greatest art patrons of Limbourg brothers’ Belles Heures,
the Middle Ages. These made for Jean, Duc de Berry, in
tapestries are one of only 1410, and the tiny, palm-sized
two sets that survived version made by Gothic master
from the late 14th century; Jean Pucelle for the Queen of
the other set belonged France around 1325.
to Jean’s brother, Louis, Other religious artifacts range
Duc d’Anjou. from a 13th-century English ivory
Nine great heroes of the Virgin to the 14th-century silver
past – three pagan, three gilt-and-enamel reliquary shrine
Hebrew, three Christian – thought to have belonged to
are shown with members Queen Elizabeth of Hungary,
of the medieval court, along with censers, chalices,
from cardinals, knights, candlesticks, and crucifixes.
and damsels to musicians. Curiosities here include the
In an adjacent room is “Monkey Cup,” an enameled
the magnificent Hunt of Julius Caesar, entertained by court musicians, in a beaker probably made for the
the Unicorn, a series of Nine Heroes tapestry 15th-century Burgundian
seven tapestries woven in court, showing mischievous
the Netherlands around 1500. literally hundreds of minutely monkeys robbing a sleeping
It depicts the symbolic hunt observed plants and animals. peddler; an intricately carved
of the mythical unicorn and its Their story can be read as a rosary bead the size of a walnut;
capture by a maiden. tale of courtly love, but the a 13th-century boat-shaped,
Although they were misused series is also an allegory of the jeweled salt cellar; and a full set
in the 19th century to protect Crucifixion and the Resurrection of playing cards dating to the
fruit trees from frost damage, of Christ. 15th century.

Hunting images and symbols depicted on a 15th-century deck of playing cards

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