Unicorn is found at the fountain.



 Unicorn is Found at the Fountain, 1495-1505.

I've really been enjoying my Art History classes. I was never a huge fan of history, unless the teacher made it interesting, so I thought art history would be similar. It's actually more about the art than the history, the story behind it is more just information you pick up by learning about each art piece. Currently we're in the 1500s.

I found this tapestry pretty and interesting, I never knew there was so much symbolism in everyday objects. I'm also amazed that it's a tapestry, it looks like a painting or drawing. I'd have never guessed it to be needlework.

The subject of the piece of art is the unicorn, a mythical horse-like animal with a single long twisted horn. They're said to be supernaturally swift and can only be captured by a virgin, to whom it came willingly. The unicorn became a symbol of the Incarnation (Christ is the unicorn captured by the Virgin Mary) and a metaphor for romantic love. The capture an killing of the unicorn also symbolizes Christ's death on the cross.

Lions represent valor, faith, courage, and mercy. The stag is a resurrection symbol (shedding and regrowing it's antlers). Rabbits are signs of fertility and dogs fidelity. there's a strong theme of marriage, strawberries are a common symbol of sexual love, pansy means remembrance, and periwinkle is a cure for spiteful feelings and jealousy.

(All information I've obtained about the piece I got from Art History vol.II by Marilyn Stokstad)