A Walk Through the Cloisters

by Metropolitan Museum of Art

Book by Young, Bonnie, Varon, Malcolm

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction, Art History, Architecture, Travel, Reference

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, (colloquially, the “Met”) is the largest art museum in the United States.

It was founded on April 13, 1870, "to be located in the City of New York, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining in said city a Museum and library of art, of encouraging and developing the study of the fine arts, and the application of arts to manufacture and practical life, of advancing the general knowledge of kindred subjects, and, to that end, of furnishing popular instruction."

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am now reading The Cloisters by Katie Hayes so I wanted to study the architecture and the art in the history of the museum. This was a great guide with photos and descriptions to take a virtual tour.

I went to the cloisters multiple times when I was a kid growing up in New York, and I remember the mystical feeling of the dark stones and the medieval art, but most of all being entranced by the walled gardens.

The unicorn tapestries are so beautiful and it was fun to read the history and the story behind each of the panels.

[Carys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, brings back fond memories

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cloisters is my favorite museum in New York City. This is a great book to read in addition to having visited The Cloisters. I loved the historic information about many of the items they have at the museum. I am so lucky that I have been able to visit this museum each of the three times I have been in New York City. The book has great photographs of some of the items on display. My favorite part of The Cloisters are the Unicorn Tapestries, but I do love all of the medieval art there. After reading the book I wish I could go visit The Cloisters right now.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book. It brings back memories of sitting quietly in the courtyard of The Cloisters. It was so peaceful and beautiful that when the bird pooped on the shoulder of my black blouse, I just laughed. That's peaceful!

[Kathy Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good guidebook to one of my favorite museums (The Cloisters in NYC), it offers good pictures and history about the most important of The Cloisters' holdings. Worth reading even if you never get there.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful coffee table book!

[Hastingsp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I'm there again when looking through this book. Beautifully photographded; just enough educational descriptives....

[Sheherazahde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed photographic guide to The Cloisters with floor plans and description of the history of the exhibits. It's like having a tour guide walk you through the building.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

History of and descriptions of the different rooms in the Bronx branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where Medieval Art is collected.