The Lady and the Unicorn

The Lady and the Unicorn (French: La Dame à la licorne) is the modern title given to a series of six tapestries created in the style of mille-fleurs ("thousand flowers") and woven in Flanders from wool and silk, from designs ("cartoons") drawn in Paris around 1500. Today, the set is on display in the Musée de Cluny in Paris.

Five of the tapestries are commonly interpreted as depicting the five senses – taste, hearing, sight, smell, and touch. Each tapestry shows a noble lady with a unicorn on her left and a lion on her right, with some scenes also including a monkey. The sixth tapestry displays the words "À mon seul désir," which means "to my only desire." Its exact meaning remains a mystery, but many believe it represents love or deep understanding. These beautiful tapestries are loved for their colorful designs and the interesting stories people have shared about them for centuries.

History

The famous tapestries known as The Lady and the Unicorn were rediscovered in 1841 at Boussac Castle by Prosper Mérimée. They were in poor condition because of dampness and mould. In 1844, the novelist George Sand helped bring them to public attention. In 1882, Edmond Du Sommerard, curator of the Musée de Cluny in Paris, purchased the tapestries. Since then, they have been carefully preserved and restored. Today, they are displayed at the Musée de Cluny.

Content and themes

The tapestries are thought to explore earthly pleasures and courtly culture through the idea of the five senses. Scholars believe they were made for a noble sponsor connected to the French court.

Each tapestry shows a lady with a unicorn and a lion, who appear in every scene. In the "Touch" tapestry, the lady touches the unicorn's horn. In "Taste," she eats sweets while a monkey also eats. In "Smell," she makes a flower wreath, and the monkey smells a flower. In "Hearing," she plays a small organ. In "Sight," she looks at the unicorn's reflection in a mirror. The final tapestry, titled "À Mon Seul Désir", shows the lady placing a necklace into a chest, possibly symbolizing her free will or understanding. Each tapestry uses animals and objects to represent one of the five senses.

Popular culture

The tapesties have appeared in many books, movies, and games. In the Harry Potter films, copies of the tapesties decorate the Gryffindor common room. The sixth tapestry, called "À Mon Seul Désir", is also shown in the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn series and a few other stories.

Artists and musicians have used the tapesties as inspiration too. For example, the cover of the album UnChild by Sawano Hiroyuki and Aimer is based on one of the tapesties. The tapesties have also appeared in films, games, and even an episode of Little Einsteins called "The Song of The Unicorn."