In March, I visited the Cloisters Museum, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in northern Manhattan. There are a lot of artworks from medieval Europe including a famous altar cross named Cloisters Cross, also called "King Of The Confessors". This ivory cross is recognized as one of the most notable artifacts from medieval Europe. It is skillfully curved and thus incomparably beautiful being the only medieval cross made of ivory. Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art published a book titled “King Of The Confessors” which is about how he could find the medieval cross and purchase it when he was a curator at the Cloisters Museum. According to the book, the cross was created in the 12th century at Bury St Edmunds Abbey in England by Master Hugo. Unfortunately, Bury St Edmunds Abbey was destroyed in the 14th century. Master Hugo is known for illuminating the bible that was written in Bury St Edmunds Abbey, the “Bury Bible”, which is also considered as an innovation of English Romanesque art. Master Hugo curved the cross from a walrus ivory decorated with 92 small figures and 98 inscriptions for the altar of Bury St Edmunds Abbey. The reason why the cross is called “King of The confessors” is its inscription. Generally, Holy Crosses had been written inscriptions such as “Jesus, King of the Jews”, and the Cloisters Cross has a written inscription: “Jesus, King Of The Confessors”. One supposition for this inordinate inscription is that it is designed to convert Jews to Christianity. In fact, other Latin inscriptions written for the cross are about criticism of Jews in England. So, they wanted to avoid writing Jesus as “King of the Jews”. The Cloisters Cross had illustrations of several old testament scenes. The front of the cross shows the Tree of Life which Adam and Eve cling on to at the base. The central medallion depicts Moses climbing the Nehushtan that implies the Crucifixion. The terminals depict Jesus's Descent, Resurrection and Ascension. A placard above the medallion shows the hand of God leading Christ to the heaven. The Cloisters Cross was once owned by a strange and secretive Yugoslavian art dealer, Topić Mimara. He never talked about how he could have got the cross. Topić sold the Cloisters Cross to the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 1963 and it was transported to the United States of America. The altar cross is one of the highlights of the Cloisters Museum. It shows us the beauty of the English Romanesque, the majesty of the medieval arts and old testament legend. When people see it, they feel a sense of awe. “King Of The Confessors” is one of the most significant medieval treasures that can be seen today.

1. Medieval Cross at the Cloisters Museum
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2. In March, I visited the Cloisters Museum, the branch of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in northern Manhattan.

3. There are a lot of artworks from medieval Europe including a famous altar cross named
Cloisters Cross, also called "King Of The Confessors".
This ivory cross is recognize as one of the most notable artifacts from medieval Europe.
It is skillfully carved and thus incomparably beautiful being the only medieval cross
made of ivory.

5. Thomas Hoving, former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art published a
book titled “King Of The Confessors” which is about how he could find the medieval cross and purchase it when he was a curator at the Cloisters Museum.

6. According to the book, the cross was created in the 12th century at “Bury St Edmunds Abbey” in
England by Master Hugo. Unfortunately, Bury St Edmunds Abbey was destroyed in the 14th century. Master Hugo is known for illuminating the bible that was written in Bury St Edmunds Abbey,
the “Bury Bible”, which is also considered as an innovation of English Romanesque art.

7. Master Hugo carved the cross from a walrus ivory decorated with 92 small figures and 98 inscriptions for the altar of Bury St Edmunds Abbey.

8. The reason why the cross is called “King Of The Confessors” is it
s inscription. Generally, Holy Crosses had been writtens inscription
s such as “Jesus, King Of The Jews”, and the Cloisters Cross has
a written inscription: “Jesus, King Of The Confessors”.
One supposition for this inordinate inscription is that it is designed
to convert Jews to Christianity. In fact, other Latin inscriptions
written for the cross are about criticism of Jews in England.
So, they wanted to avoid writing Jesus as “King Of The Jews”.

9. The Cloisters Cross had illustrations of several old testament scenes. The
front of the cross shows the Tree of Life which Adam and Eve clinging
on to at the base.
The central medallion depicts Moses climbing the Nehushtan that implies the Crucifixion.
The terminals depict Jesus's Descent, Resurrection and Ascension.
A placard above the medallion shows the hand of God leading Christ to
Heaven.

10. ●
The centrall medallion and terminals

12. The Cloisters Cross was once owned by a strange and secretive Yugoslavian
art dealer, Topić Mimara. He never talked about how he could have got the cross.
Topić sold the Cloisters Cross to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
in 1963 and it was transported to the United States of America.

13. The altar cross is one of the highlights of the Cloisters Museum.
It shows us the beauty of the English Romanesque, the majesty of the medieval arts and old testa-
ment legend.
When people see it, they feel a sense of awe.
“King Of The Confessors” is one of the most significant medieval treasures that can be seen to
day.

14. Thank you for your attention.
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