The lady and the unicorn / [text by Sutherland Lyall ; in collaboration with Mike Darton].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lyall, Sutherland.

Contributor:

Darton, Michael.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lady and the unicorn.

Hunt of the unicorn.

Tapestry, Gothic--France.

Tapestry, Gothic.

France.

Unicorns in art.

Art, Medieval--Themes, motives.

Art, Medieval.

Christian art and symbolism--Medieval, 500-1500--Themes, motives.

Christian art and symbolism.

Christian art and symbolism--Medieval--Themes, motives.

Physical Description:

192 pages : color illustrations ; 33 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Parkstone, 2000.

Summary:

This legendary medieval tapestry was probably created about 1580 and rediscovered in 1844 by the famous novelist George Sand in the chateau at Boussac. 39 years later it was acquired by the Cluny Museum in Paris where it instantly became very popular. The tapestry consists of six huge panels. The lady appears in all six panels, each time dressed in a different costume and in a different location. The decoration includes a great variety of colors, a multitude of flowers, animals and trees. The owner of the tapestry was Jean Le Viste, President of the Court of Aids. It is commonly recognized today that five of the six panels illustrate the five senses: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch and Smell. However, no satisfactory explanation has yet been found for the sixth panel. More significantly, this theme illustrates the evolution of the woman role at the brink of the Renaissance. This book also focuses on the feminine and the power symbols in a period of great political and historical changes.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (page 192).

ISBN:

1859955193

OCLC:

45338318