Unicorn Tapestries
The unicorn entered medieval history over 2500 years ago, since the ancient Babylonian times. Since the medieval period, unicorn tapestries and unicorn tapestry art has appeared in various guises.
So why was there such a fascination with unicorns in the art of this time to this day?
A Greek physician Ctesias, whilst under the service of the King of Persia documented in 398 BC a strange creature he encountered who's dust from its single pointed horn would protect against deadly poison.
Then Genghis Khan, on the verge of conquering India in 1224 on the final battle hill, saw a single creature he recognised as the Ch'i lin, the name of the unicorn in Chinese. He felt such fear that he ordered a retreat, eluding China of her victory.
And in the famous ancient city of Alexandria, a text called the "Physiologus" which contains descriptions of all creatures that have existed in creation, describe the unicorn as a beast that could not be captured by force, but only by a virgin fondling the unicorn to entice him to sleep.
Unicorns have been captured in art through history, including the "Lady and the Unicorn tapestries" and the "Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries" from the 15th century or thereabouts.
Our unicorn tapestries have been carefully selected, and each represent an important aspect of the legend of the unicorn.
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Meaning "With My Only Desire", "A Mon Seul Desir" is the main work in the series of six tapestries known collectively as "Dame a la Licorne". This piece features a lady and her lady in waiting. It is thought to mean the rejection of temptation and self-denial. -
In this scene, we see a detail from the Lady and the Unicorn tapestry of "A Mon Seul Desir" which originated from the medieval period. -
The "A Mon Seul Desir - Right Panel" tapestry originated from the medieval period and in this scene, we see the hand maiden of the Lady holding the chest from which she is placing her necklace. -
The Lady from the Lady and the Unicorn series of medieval unicorn tapestries is seen here emerging from the royal pavilion, and reaching for her jeweled necklace from the jewelry box attended to by her hand maiden. -
The tapestries known as the "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries were rediscovered by French historian and archeaologist, Prosper Merimee, in 1841, in Boussac castle in central France. At the time they were damaged by their conditions of storage. The novelist George Sand, a lover of Chopin, wrote of these tapetsries in her works, and brought public interest to these works. -
Here in this "A Mon Seul Desir" unicorn tapestry, from the series of Lady and the Unicorn tapestry, shows the lady with her maidservant, lion and unicorn. -
A Mon Seul Desir V tapestry shows the scene from the To My Sole Desire scene of the series of 6 tapestries based on the originals from 1470. Thought to be woven in Brussels, and discovered in 1841 in the Boussac castle in France after centuries where it went missing, this work is a much loved work of the medieval period.
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In this tapestry "Arms of the Knights" the unicorn and lion are in the forest where the knights of Camelot are pursuing the elusive unicorn. -
This unicorn tapestry "Death of the Unicorn" is a detail of the famous death of the unicorn described in the legends of the hunt of the unicorn. Here we see a parade of people escorting the unicorn that will be killed and brought to the castle. The original was originally commissioned by Anne of Brittany to celebrate her marriage to King Louis XII of France. -
This handwoven tapestry "Handwoven L'Odorat - Lady and The Unicorn" shows the sense of Smell from the legendary "Lady and the Unicorn" series from the 1500s. The original series were dedicated to the Le Viste family and the exact meanings of the series is still a mystery. -
This handwoven tapestry "Handwoven Le Gout Detail - Lady and The Unicorn" shows the sense of Taste from the Lady and the famous Unicorn series from the 1500s. In this piece, we see a section showing the Lady tasting candies from a platter held by her maid. -
This handwoven tapestry "Repose a la Fontaine" shows the detail from unicorn at the fountain, based on the famous "La Chasse" tapestry from Brussels from the 15th century. -
Another in the series known as "La Dame a la Licorne", this tapestry depicts the sense of hearing. It shows a lovely maiden from the 1500s playing a pipe organ. She is surrounded by bouquets of flowers, typical of the Mille Fleur style popular in the medieval period. -
This "Hearing (L'Ouie) III" tapestry, part of the Lady and the Unicorn series of tapestries "La Dame a la Licorne", shows the sense of hearing. Here the mysterious lady is shown playing the pipe organ with her maid by her side listening. -
In this tapestry 'Heraldic Unicorn' based on the famous work by William Morris, we see a scene depicting the quest for the elusive and mythical unicorn by King Arthur's knights of the Round Table. Here we see the creature strolling near a forest stream, surrounded by trees bearing the various arms of the knights engaged in this quest.
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This Lady and the Unicorn series tapestry shows three senses of the set of 6 tapestries in this series. In this piece, we see the senses of Hearing, Touch and Smell. -
This Lady and the Unicorn Series II tapestry shows the Lady with three senses, of the six senses including love, portrayed by this series. Here we see the senses of Smell, Hearing and Touch. -
Lady With The Organ (Hearing) is a tapestry showing a detail from the original tapestry celebrating the sense of hearing.
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Following the 5 tapestries representing the senses, we have the tapestry Le Desir Fonce, showing desire or love, from the series of tapestries the Lady and the Unicorn. -
The sense of taste is represented here in this tapestry Le Gout Fonce. The lady is seen taking candy or sweets from a dish held by her maid servant. -
This Le Toucher tapestry shows one of the tapestries in the series of Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, the original of which is in the Musee du Moyen-Age museum. -
Inspired by the works of William Morris (1836-1896), this unicorn tapestry "Les Chevaliers de la Table Ronde" shows the unicorn in the forest with the heraldry of the knights of the round table.
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A reproduction of the "La Chasse de la Licorne" (The Hunt of the Unicorn), "Licorne a la Fontaine" shows a unicorn cleansing the water from a fountain after it was poisoned by serpents. In 15th century France, the healing properties of unicorn horns were widely known. -
Designed as a wedding gift for Anne of Brittany and her new husband Charles VIII in 1491, "Licorne Captive - Blue" was produced in France in the l5th century. Unicorns were a popular subject of paintings and tapestries of the time. In this scene the unicorn has finally been captured. -
The unicorn here in "Licorne Captive - Red" shows the unicorn captured in a pen. -
This "Licorne Captive III" unicorn tapestry shows the unicorn in captivity, as a part of the Chasse a la Licorne or Quest of the Unicorn series of tapestries from the 1500s. -
The elegant unicorn is seen here in this Portiere De Licorne tapestry, among the forest gardens and near the flag of the commissioner of the original work, Jean le Viste, a nobleman to King Charles VII. -
It is the lion's turn to take the attention and spotlight in this portiere or long and narrow tapestry "Portiere Du Lion" used in medieval periods to adorn homes and palaces. -
A close-up of the lion that appears in "Le Gout", one of the six tapestries collectively known at "Dame a la Licorne" or "The Lady with the Unicorn", "Portiere Lion" is symbolic of three natures of the lion each one symbolizing an aspect of Christ. -
This portiere "Portiere Medieval Lion" tapestry shows a detail from the Lady and the Unicorn series of wall tapestries from the middle ages. -
This "Portiere Medieval Unicorn" tapestry shows a detail from the series of medieval tapestries which is known as the Lady and the Unicorn. -
A close-up of the unicorn used in "Le Gout", one of the six tapestries collectively known as "Dame a la Licorne" or "The Lady with the Unicorn", "Portiere Unircorn" focuses on the lovely unicorn depicted in this classic work. The unicorn was a central part of many medieval works of art. -
Portiere Unicorn II tapestry shows the unicorn from the Lady and the Unicorn series from the 16th century around 1511. Here in this work, we see the unicorn in detail with its cape which represented the royal or family crest of Jean Le Viste, who comissioned the work.
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The lady is seen here in this tapestry showing the sense of sight. Here she holds an ornate mirror to show the reflection of the unicorn's face who is endearing and placing his hoofs onto her lap. -
In this piece, the sense of sight is celebrated by the Lady looking with the mirror, with her unicorn by her lap. From the series of tapestries from the famous medieval series. -
One of the series of works known collectively as "La Dame a la Licorne", "Sight (La Vue) II" shows a lady holding a mirror in which the unicorn's reflection appears. Like others in the series, this tapestry was commissioned by Jean Le Viste to mark his appointment to the court of King Louis XI. -
This tapestry "Smell (L' Odorat) I" shows a scene portraying the sense of smell from the series of tapestries "Lady and the Unicorn". -
One of six tapestries in the "Lady and the Unicorn" or "La Dame a la Licorne" series, this striking work represents the sense of smell. Woven in the 16th century, "Smell (L' Odorat) III" shows the lady weaving a necklace of scented flowers, with her maidservant holding a basket of flowers for her. -
In Smell (L' Odorat) IV tapestry we see a work based on the original Lady and the Unicorn series from 1511. Here in this scene we see the Lady handed some flowers by her hand maiden, with her pet monkey and her unicorn with the cape of Jean le Viste's family.
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One of six tapestries in the "Lady and the Unicorn" or "La Dame a la Licorne" series, this striking work represents the sense of smell. Woven in the 16th century, "Smell (L' Odorat) V" shows the lady weaving a necklace of scented flowers, with her maidservant holding a basket of flowers for her. -
The lady is seen here is this unicorn tapestry tasting candy from a plate held by her handmaiden. -
"Taste (Le Gout) II" is one of six tapestries in the historic "Lady with the Unicorn" series. Commissioned by Jean Le Viste, this particular tapestry depicts "taste", one of the five senses, and features the unicorn with the family crest of the Le Viste family. -
Celebrating the sense of touch, the Lady is seen here caressing the unicorn's magical healing horn. -
The Lady is touching the unicorn on its magical healing horn in this work originally rediscovered in 1841, the Touch, from the series of unicorn tapestries. -
The sense of touch is celebrated here in this wall tapestry from the Lady and the Unicorn series of tapestries. -
As part of "La Dame a la Licorne" series of tapestries, "Touch (Le Toucher) II" shows a lovely maiden, petting a unicorn. In her other hand is the banner of the Le Viste family, complete with the coat of arms which was three crescents against a blue stripe on a red background. -
This tapestry "Unicorn At The Fountain" shows the hunted unicorn at the fountain cleansing the water, while watched by its hunters. The "Hunt of the Unicorn" series of tapestries are a series of 7 tapestries from 1495-1505. -
The unicorn is dipping his horn into the water from the well, in this scene "Unicorn At The Fountain II". -
This "Unicorn Captive and Unicorn Hunt" shows a scene from the Hunt of the Unicorn series of tapestries. -
This tapestry "Unicorn Detail" shows a detail from the Lady and the Unicorn series of tapestries originally from the 15th century. The Lady and the Unicorn is a series of six tapestries created in Flanders and is one of the most impressive works from the Medieval period. -
This "Unicorn Dips His Horn" tapestry shows the mysterious unicorn dipping his horn into the river to cleanse it. -
Unicorn Dips His Horn tapestry shows the mystical unicorn, surrounded by hunters, dipping his horn. -
This variation of the "Unicorn Hunt" tapestry shows a scene of the hunters pursuing the capture of the mythical and magical unicorn. -
The Hunt of the Unicorn was a work from the period of 1495-1505, where noblemen are hunting in a quest to capture the unicorn, thought to possess magical healing powers. -
The hunters are amongst the woods looking to track down the elusive unicorn, in this detail taken from the original work from the late 15th century. -
Part of a series commissioned as a wedding gift for Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII in 1491, "Unicorn in Captivity" dates to the 15th century and was produced in France. Here, the unicorn has been captured and is enclosed in a pen. -
Filled with gorgeous color, we see the "Unicorn in Captivity III" from the series of 7 tapestries "The Hunt of the Unicorn" from the period of 1495-1505. -
In Unicorn Medieval wall tapestry we see a unicorn perched on a shield with the royal crest of the Le Viste family. The Le Viste family commissioned the unicorn and the lady series of tapestries and here we see a work inspired from a detail from those pieces with the unicorn and his cape and shield bearing their emblem.
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