Amongst the most beautiful tapestries in existence are a series of seven tapestries known as The Hunt of the Unicorn Tapestries. It is believed these magnificent tapestries were commissioned by Anne of Brittany around 1500 in celebration of her marriage to King Charles Vlll of France.
Each of the tapestries represents a scene in The Hunt for the Unicorn. Richly dressed noblemen, accompanied by hunters and hounds, pursue a unicorn through forested landscapes. The final tapestry in the series known as The Unicorn in captivity depicts the Unicorn after is has been caught, he is tethered to a tree and is constrained by a fence.
Historians and art lovers the world over have debated the meaning behind the tapestries, and today the debate continues.
In 1922, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., bought them for just over a million dollars, and in 1937 he gave them to the Cloisters. Their monetary value today is incalculable.
The Cloisters is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. The Cloisters museum and gardens are located in Fort Tryon Park in upper Manhattan on four acres overlooking the Hudson River.
No comments:
Post a Comment