Cecily Hughes: From seeing outstanding medieval art objects to watching the dogs in Madison Square Park, our medievalist group trip to NYC was a wonderful experience! I particularly enjoyed the thrill of presence—of past people and cultures—that I got from seeing manuscript fragments from the Cairo Genizah and illuminations from the twelfth-century Eadwine Psalter. Experienced on a late fall afternoon, the Met Cloister’s Gothic Chapel’s somber ambiance created a provocative contrast with the Spectrum of Desire exhibition just upstairs. 

Annelies Knight: Our trip to New York was a beyond amazing experience! Being able to spend hours with such incredible (and seemingly never ending!) collections at the Met, Morgan, and Grolier would have been enough for me to have been beyond happy. Getting amazing tours from Sharon Mintz and Griff Mann was truly the cherry on top to the trip!

Alli Boroff: It was a delight to bridge the medievalist communities of Cleveland and New York City through this wonderfully productive trip. From spotting familiar Cleveland Museum of Art objects on loan to the MET Cloisters in Spectrum of Desire to viewing an incredibly diverse group of Hebrew manuscripts at the Grolier Club, it was an incredible experience to connect with the network of art historians and world-renowned collections in New York City.

Tess Artis: This was my first trip to New York City and it was certainly an unforgettable experience. I knew that institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, and the Morgan Library were world renowned for a reason, but nothing prepared me for the bounty of medieval art contained within their halls. With every corner I turned, I encountered old friends–objects  I had previously studied–alongside objects of such hitherto unknown wonder that I could hardly tear myself away. While I was in the city I took part in a graduate seminar titled “On Quality in Drawings 1400-1900” at the Morgan led by John Marciari, Jennifer Tonkovich, and Sarah Mallory. The activities and discussions I participated in will enrich my internship with the Prints and Drawings department of the Cleveland Museum of Art and inform my future career as an art historian. It must also be said that all of my experiences in New York City were enhanced by my colleagues. Whether I was making new connections with students from other institutions or exploring the city with my fellow graduate students here at CWRU, it was a joy, as always, to discuss interesting art with interesting people. 

Maya Virdell: The trip to New York was lovely, both culturally and art historically. Visiting the Morgan Library, Grolier Club, and the Met Cloisters was extremely informative and enjoyable. As I am not as well-versed in Western Medieval art, I learned a lot from Professor Gertsman, my fellow students, and our brilliant tour guides! I would like to give a special shoutout to Sharon Mintz for the time she dedicated to us in her tour of Jewish manuscripts, which were sourced from all over the world and represented a vast span of time. 

Claudia Haines: Our trip to New York City was an all-around amazing experience, but the highlight for me was undoubtedly having the opportunity to see firsthand objects that we have studied extensively in class. From the Belles Heures of Jean de Berry, to the (tiny!) Rothschild Canticles, to the Prayer Book of Bonne of Luxembourg, to Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, and beyond, this was an extraordinary opportunity to study and discuss objects that I had previously only seen in the pages of books and articles. Our program’s emphasis on object-based study is one of its greatest strengths, and this trip was a prime example.

Helena von Sadovszky: I loved everything about the trip! The opportunity to see objects that I had only read about was a wonderful experience that I am very grateful for. Seeing the exhibits at the Grolier Club and the Morgan Library was a fascinating experience. The Love and Desire exhibit at the Cloisters was absolutely gorgeous. All of the experiences generated a multitude of new questions particularly about the performance of courtly love in the martial sphere! Similarly, I had the opportunity to visit the main Metropolitan Museum of Art and all but fell to my knees in astonishment before their armor collection. 12th Century armor is not something one often encounters, so it was an absolute privilege to see such fine examples that I have written about. I am very thankful to Professor Gertsman, my fellow students, and all of the professionals who made time to speak with us about the exhibits and the treasures they contain!