In a special presentation at The Cloisters museum and gardens—The Metropolitan Museum of Art's branch devoted to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages—some 30 citizens of Nijmegen (The Netherlands) wearing historically accurate attire based on medieval designs will participate in a lecture demonstration with costume historian Desirée Koslin. The program will take place twice on Sunday, February 28, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m., and will focus on 15 different costumes. Although they are of contemporary construction, each unique costume relates to a specific depiction in one of several well-known illuminated manuscripts of the 15th century. Costumes featured in the demonstration will include those that would have been worn by dukes, duchesses, ladies of the court, and merchants, as well as citizens, servants, and peasants. The costumed citizens of Nijmegen will be available for photographs by the public—taken without flash—during the intermission. The event is free with Museum admission.
Nijmegen was the original home of the Limbourg brothers, creators of such famed manuscripts as the Belles Heures and the Très Riches Heures, considered among the greatest achievements in late medieval illumination. The manuscripts by the Limbourg brothers served as the inspiration for several of the costumes on view in this event.
This demonstration has been organized in cooperation with the Limbourg Brothers Foundation and the City of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The program is organized in conjunction with the exhibition The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition will be on view March 2 through June 13, 2010.
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February 18, 2010