On Wednesday, October 13, 2011, the freshmen class went on a trip to the Cloisters Museum. This museum is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art specializing in Medieval art. It is in a separate location than the Met- Fort Tryon Park of upper Manhattan to be exact.
The 9th grade is currently learning about the Middle Ages in History and English, specifically the types of art and literature of the time. There were many incredible works in the museum, and we even saw a painting that we learned about in history. Some of the fantastic artworks that we saw include: The Unicorn Tapestries, The Virgin and Child, and The Annunciation Triptych.
Our tour guides were so helpful and explained the artwork and its history very well. Not only did they reinforce what we learned in history and expanded our knowledge about the Middle Ages, they taught us that there is a difference between reading and talking about artwork from the time and actually seeing the artwork. This day was very beneficial to my entire grade because we can now think back to what we saw in the Cloisters to give context to what we learn in class.
One of the most beautiful parts of the Cloisters trip was the gardens. Not only were the gardens beautiful, but they were also very informative. We saw what herbs were commonly used at the time and how they were used.
The entire museum was so beautiful and unique that it was unforgettable. We each had different experiences, but, in the end, we left with the same expression on our faces: astonishment.