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Glories of Medieval Art: The Cloisters

Philippe de Montebello, former Director of The Met, guides viewers through The Cloisters, pointing out Romanesque and Gothic architecture and artwork, beautiful tapestries, and the diverse species in the gardens.  He outlines the history of the building and its many influences and highlights significant works of art in the collection.
27 min. watch

Philippe de Montebello, Director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1977 to 2008, guides viewers through The Cloisters, pointing out Romanesque and Gothic architecture and artwork, beautiful tapestries, and the diverse species in the gardens. He outlines the history of the building and it's many influences and highlights significant works of art in the collection. It was produced in 1989 by The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Office of Film and Television.

May 2013 through May 2014 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of The Cloisters.

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Art Mentioned

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The Hunters Enter the Woods (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp, wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Hunters Enter the Woods (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Unicorn Purifies Water (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Crosses a Stream (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Unicorn Crosses a Stream (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Defends Himself (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Unicorn Defends Himself (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Hunters Return to the Castle (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Hunters Return to the Castle (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Surrenders to a Maiden (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
The Unicorn Surrenders to a Maiden (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
French (cartoon)/South Netherlandish (woven)
1495–1505
The Unicorn Surrenders to a Maiden (from the Unicorn Tapestries), Wool warp with wool, silk, silver, and gilt wefts, South Netherlandish
The Unicorn Surrenders to a Maiden (from the Unicorn Tapestries)
South Netherlandish
1495–1505
Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece), Robert Campin Netherlandish, Oil on oak, Netherlandish
Annunciation Triptych (Merode Altarpiece)
Robert Campin
ca. 1427–32
The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France, Jean Pucelle French, Grisaille, tempera, and ink on vellum, French
The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France
Jean Pucelle
ca. 1324–28
Cuxa Cloister, Marble, Catalan
Cuxa Cloister
Catalan
ca. 1130–40
A Knight of the d'Aluye Family, Limestone, French
A Knight of the d'Aluye Family
French
after 1248–by 1267
Chapter House from Notre-Dame-de-Pontaut, Limestone, French
Chapter House from Notre-Dame-de-Pontaut
French
12th century
Scenes from the Life of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Master of Saint Augustine Netherlandish, Oil, gold, and silver on wood, Netherlandish
Scenes from the Life of Saint Augustine of Hippo
Master of Saint Augustine
ca. 1490
Stained Glass Panel with Queen Kunigunde, Pot-metal glass, colorless glass, and vitreous paint, Austrian
Stained Glass Panel with Queen Kunigunde
Austrian
1340–50
Virgin and Child, Limestone, paint, gilt, glass, French
Virgin and Child
French
ca. 1340–50
Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña, Limestone, Spanish
Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña
Spanish
ca. 1175–1200
The Cloisters Playing Cards, Paper (four layers of pasteboard) with pen and ink, opaque paint, glazes, and applied silver and gold, South Netherlandish
The Cloisters Playing Cards
South Netherlandish
ca. 1475–80
Book of Hours, Simon Bening Netherlandish, Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment; modern red leather binding, Netherlandish
Book of Hours
Simon Bening
ca. 1530–35