A trip to the Cloisters

I decided to study up to help my sons appreciate a trip to the Cloisters. Cloisters literally means covered walkway leading to a open quadrangle on one side. Quite a beautiful architectural space.

First I read up on the Merode Altarpiece. I read this article first. Then this one by John Haber. I like Jesus shooting towards the Virgin Mary in miniature form, with a cross. Lillies supposedly represent purity. The books are the new and old testament; hard to figure out they existed before the Virgin Mary was impregnated. There is a star in her dress. The table seems to be too slanted. There is a bit of a mystery about who painted it, and a woman was tacked on in the left panel. The arch angel Gabriel is flying towards Mary. Joseph is in the right panel, making mouse traps supposedly. I showed the picture and the boys gave really vague sketchy answers to what they saw.

The I read up on the Unicorn Tapestries. There's a fascinating article in the New Yorker about trying to digitally record the tapestries. And you can download a free book. I read some of it.

The capture of the unicorn is supposed to represent marriage, that marriage is like trying to take someone very unique and putting a chain on them. The pomegranates represent fertility, and marriage as we know was and is about reproduction in Christianity. But what's great about the tapestries, is that they are mysterious and can't be boiled down to certain ideas. It is rich, and complex.

I tried to widen the scope and got them some book on Medieval times. Turns out the medieval times were from 5 to 15 A.C.E. After the fall of the Roman Empire, and before the Renaissance. I focused on vocabulary: Tapestry, Annuniciation, pagan, Christian, cloister, Medieval, iconography. When you try to boil it down for 8 and 9 year olds, it makes you realize how complex life really is. But it's not a video game, so it's not quite as interesting.

Fun facts for the kiddies: The tapestries appear in the background of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I'm going to have the boys watch the movie and see if they can spot the tapestries.

I had laid the groundwork, because the boys have seen the excellent movie, The Secret of Kells. I find it to be one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. On this go round watching it I pointed out the medieval aspects of the movie. The Book of Kells is in Ireland, but there are lots of illuminated books at the Cloisters. Supposedly there is a copy of the Book of Hours.

We have also read the book Adam of the Road, which is an excellent book set in medieval times. I love reading aloud to my sons at bedtime. Andres wants to play games, which we often do. But we also read sometimes.

We listened to Gregorian chants in the morning before we went to the Cloisters.

The photographs were taken by grandpa on a previous visit. You can see his other photography here.