“THE UNICORN CAPTURE” IS RECREATED AFTER “THE HUNT OF THE UNICORN” SERIES, FOUND IN THE COLLECTION OF FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCALD AND IS CURRENTLY HOUSED IN THE CLOISTERS DIVISION OF THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART. THE TAPESTRY WAS WOVEN TO CELEBRATE THE MARRIAGE OF ANNE OF BRITTANY TO LOUIS XII AS SEEN BY THE LETTERS “A” AND “E” JOINED BY A KNOT IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER. THE “UNICORN HUNT” DEPICTS A MEDIEVAL LEGEND, WHICH HELD THAT THE UNICORN’S HORN WAS AN ANTIDOTE TO POISON AND A GENERAL PANACEA, BUT WAS IMMENSELY RARE BECAUSE NO ORDINARY HUNTER COULD CATCH IT. THE ONLY WAY THE UNICORN COULD BE TRAPPED IS BY THE UNIQUE LURE OF A VIRGIN., TO WHOM THE UNICORN WOULD YIELD. SCHOLARS HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE TAPESTRIES EVOKE A METAPHOR TO THE PASSION OF CHRIST WITH A SECULAR LOVE ALLEGORY THAT RESULTS IN THE CONSUMMATION OF MARRIAGE.

UNICORN CAPTURE

15TH CENTURY GOTHIC TOURNAI DESIGN