The Unicorn at Bay

The creation of the 7 Unicorn Tapestries is thought to have been between 1495-1505, in the areas of Brussels or Liège in the Southern Netherlands. Although for whom the tapestries were woven is still unknown. The tapestries were in the possession of the La Rochefoucauld family until they were sold to John D Rockefeller, Jr. in 1992. Rockefeller then donated the tapestries to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1935.

They are believed to be one of the finest examples of the art of tapestry in the world, and are housed in the Cloisters in Manhattan, New York CIty, NY.

The hunters have cornered the unicorn. They move in for the kill but the unicorn fights back. Goring a hound with his horn, the unicorn kicks at a huntsman with his hooves. The party regroups, realizing that a unicorn may not be taken by ordinary means.

In religious allegory, a man with a horn is believed to symbolize the archangel Gabriel.

Cattail (Typha latifolia) was a symbol of Salvation.

Dogs
Medieval people relied a lot on their dogs. Used for hunting, protection, guarding their flocks, they also symbolized fidelity.

English oak (Quercus robur) was an important symbol of fidelity in love and marriage, and its leaves symbolized steadfastness. It also symbolized Salvation and the Virgin Mary. The oak was worshiped by the Druids. It was used to treat wounds, bleeding, poisons, boils, and intestinal problems.

Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) was used for broken bones, vertigo, female fertility, and bites.

Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) were symbolic of faithfulness and fidelity.

Peach (Prunus persica) was very rarely seen in medieval tapestries and paintings. It was used to treat fevers, stomach and ear complaints, and ulcers as well as increase fertility.

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) was used to treat poisonings, the plague and illness of the womb.

Unicorn
Although mythological, the unicorn was believed to be real in medieval times. A unicorn's horn was in the middle of its forehead and believed to have powers of purification. It could only be trapped by a virgin girl, who was led to where a unicorn lurked, and sent off on her own. As soon as a unicorn saw her, he would leap into her lap and would then be 'caught'. A unicorn was often seen to symbolize Jesus Christ.