One of the greatest works of art from the Middle Ages is a series of six tapestries, which is now called the Lady and the Unicorn. It can be found at the Musee de Moyen, also known at the Cluny, in Paris. The first five tapestries represent the five senses; the meaning of the sixth tapestry has become obscure over time and understanding the meaning of its title, "A mon seul desir" has now become speculation.
Each of the tapestries has a noble woman in the centre, flanked on the right by a unicorn and on her right by a lion. To many visitors the tapestries are bewildering. Today we communicate instantly and much of our understanding has become fact based. But prior to the rise of modern science, man's perception of the world was in symbols, and story lines in allegory. This way of thinking still exits in today's world, notably in religious ceremonies, but its history is perhaps 100,000 years old.
If we accept therefore, that allegory is present, the Lady becomes the Virgin, the Unicorn represents Christ, and the Lion the Oak King. From the rise of agriculture, understanding centred on the seasons. The Oak King or Lion represent the waxing year, or the return of the world to fecundity. Spring in essence. Behind all the images of the lion is an Oak tree. The Unicorn as Christ, and perhaps melded in the artists mind with the ancient Holly King, is a symbol of the waning year. The inclusion of both icons in the tapestries is perhaps a representation of the cosmic battle, or seasonal cycle, of death and resurrection.
For taste, the lady is eating sweets, for hearing the lady is playing an organ. For sight the lady is holding up a mirror and the unicorn is viewing its reflection, perhaps a subtle comment on the re-telling of its own story. For smell the lady is making a wreath of flowers; a monkey that appears in some of the tapestries, has taken a flower and is smelling it. From the Egyptians onwards the monkey or baboon has represented the devil. For touch, the lady is holding the unicorns horn.
The Lady and the Unicorn is actually a story line, supported by symbols that have their own story lines. Its richness is absorbing.
The tapestries were probably created in the late 15th century, about the same time as the Unicorn Tapestries, which hang in the Cloisters in New York City. They were deteriorating when found, but were cleaned in 1975 and their original colour has been restored to an original brilliance. Here are some more images.
Each of the tapestries has a noble woman in the centre, flanked on the right by a unicorn and on her right by a lion. To many visitors the tapestries are bewildering. Today we communicate instantly and much of our understanding has become fact based. But prior to the rise of modern science, man's perception of the world was in symbols, and story lines in allegory. This way of thinking still exits in today's world, notably in religious ceremonies, but its history is perhaps 100,000 years old.
If we accept therefore, that allegory is present, the Lady becomes the Virgin, the Unicorn represents Christ, and the Lion the Oak King. From the rise of agriculture, understanding centred on the seasons. The Oak King or Lion represent the waxing year, or the return of the world to fecundity. Spring in essence. Behind all the images of the lion is an Oak tree. The Unicorn as Christ, and perhaps melded in the artists mind with the ancient Holly King, is a symbol of the waning year. The inclusion of both icons in the tapestries is perhaps a representation of the cosmic battle, or seasonal cycle, of death and resurrection.
For taste, the lady is eating sweets, for hearing the lady is playing an organ. For sight the lady is holding up a mirror and the unicorn is viewing its reflection, perhaps a subtle comment on the re-telling of its own story. For smell the lady is making a wreath of flowers; a monkey that appears in some of the tapestries, has taken a flower and is smelling it. From the Egyptians onwards the monkey or baboon has represented the devil. For touch, the lady is holding the unicorns horn.
The Lady and the Unicorn is actually a story line, supported by symbols that have their own story lines. Its richness is absorbing.
The tapestries were probably created in the late 15th century, about the same time as the Unicorn Tapestries, which hang in the Cloisters in New York City. They were deteriorating when found, but were cleaned in 1975 and their original colour has been restored to an original brilliance. Here are some more images.
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