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Garden Days at The Cloisters

Christina Alphonso
June 4, 2015

Attributed to Jean Le Noir (French, active 1331–75). The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy, before 1349. Made in Paris, France. French. Tempera, grisaille, ink, and gold on vellum; Overall (closed): 5 3/16 x 3 13/16 x 1 5/8 in. (13.2 x 9.7 x 4.2 cm) Overall (approx. size opened): 5 3/16 x 7 11/16 x 2 13/16 in. (13.2 x 19.5 x 7.1 cm) individual folios: 4 15/16 x 3 9/16 in. (12.6 x 9 cm) Storage (Book Box): 6 5/16 x 5 3/16 x 2 3/8 in. (16 x 13.2 x 6.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1969 (69.86)
The beautiful margins of this manuscript are filled with birds and other small animals. Attributed to Jean Le Noir (French, active 1331–75). The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy (detail), before 1349. Made in Paris, France. French. Tempera, grisaille, ink, and gold on vellum; Overall (closed): 5 3/16 x 3 13/16 x 1 5/8 in. (13.2 x 9.7 x 4.2 cm) Overall (approx. size opened): 5 3/16 x 7 11/16 x 2 13/16 in. (13.2 x 19.5 x 7.1 cm) individual folios: 4 15/16 x 3 9/16 in. (12.6 x 9 cm) Storage (Book Box): 6 5/16 x 5 3/16 x 2 3/8 in. (16 x 13.2 x 6.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1969 (69.86)

«Join us for Garden Days at The Cloisters, a daylong program of events, this Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. Our horticultural staff will answer questions in the gardens throughout the day and lead tours specific to this year's theme: the importance and use of spices in medieval culture. The program also includes garden tours, a family workshop, and a talk by food writer and historian Michael Krondl.»

Follow the lead of the fellow depicted scything on the June calendar page of The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy above and bring your hat. We'll provide sparrows aplenty.

Attributed to Jean Le Noir (French, active 1331–75). The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy (detail), before 1349. Made in Paris, France. French. Tempera, grisaille, ink, and gold on vellum; Overall (closed): 5 3/16 x 3 13/16 x 1 5/8 in. (13.2 x 9.7 x 4.2 cm) Overall (approx. size opened): 5 3/16 x 7 11/16 x 2 13/16 in. (13.2 x 19.5 x 7.1 cm) individual folios: 4 15/16 x 3 9/16 in. (12.6 x 9 cm) Storage (Book Box): 6 5/16 x 5 3/16 x 2 3/8 in. (16 x 13.2 x 6.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1969 (69.86) - See more at: http://wwwstg.metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters/in-season/2015/garden-days-at-the-cloisters#sthash.5Q7y43OW.dpuf
Attributed to Jean Le Noir (French, active 1331–75). The Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, Duchess of Normandy (detail), before 1349. Made in Paris, France. French. Tempera, grisaille, ink, and gold on vellum; Overall (closed): 5 3/16 x 3 13/16 x 1 5/8 in. (13.2 x 9.7 x 4.2 cm) Overall (approx. size opened): 5 3/16 x 7 11/16 x 2 13/16 in. (13.2 x 19.5 x 7.1 cm) individual folios: 4 15/16 x 3 9/16 in. (12.6 x 9 cm) Storage (Book Box): 6 5/16 x 5 3/16 x 2 3/8 in. (16 x 13.2 x 6.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1969 (69.86)

Can you identify the birds depicted in the manuscript border above?

Christina Alphonso

Christina Alphonso joined the staff of the Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters in 2005. She oversees daily operations and activities, including those of the gardens, manages the operating budget, and acts as liaison with other Museum departments and the community. She also contributes to The Met Cloisters' blog, In Season. Christina graduated from Bryn Mawr College, earned her MA from Hunter College, and completed postgraduate coursework in art history at The City University of New York. Her area of interest is medieval textiles, particularly Italian figural silks.