Weaving the Allegory of ‘The Lady and the Unicorn’

Art historians believe that the six unicorn tapestries are individual representations of the senses.

The enigmatic sixth tapestry is known as “A mon seul désir,” which translates as “To my only desire” and suggests a courtly love interpretation. Public Domain

The unicorn is one of the most beloved mythic beasts of the medieval world. It was a popular subject for artworks in a diverse array of media, but only two known series of tapestries that feature unicorns survive. “Unicorn Tapestries” at The Met Cloisters in New York is a star of the collection. What may be less known to Americans is that the other set is also a masterpiece. It is titled “The Lady and the Unicorn,” and it dates to the same period as “Unicorn Tapestries.” It holds court in Paris’ Musée de Cluny-Musée National du Moyen Age, the only national museum in France dedicated to medieval art, and it houses over 24,000 artworks.

The six tapestries in the “The Lady and the Unicorn” series are displayed in a dedicated room. Their beauty is only matched by their mystery, with debate ongoing about their origins and narrative.

The Elusive Unicorn