The Unicorn Tapestries: The Unicorn in Captivity

This final video, from a 5-essay playlist exploring the Unicorn Tapestries at the Cloisters Museum, continues the examination of the relation between the unicorn iconography and the tapestries’ visual language. In the seventh, and last, panel, magical creature, who had been killed in the sixth panel, is now miraculously resurrected. Also, the visual language employed here to depict the unicorn has radically changed. As discussed in earlier videos, particularly the video exploring The Unicorn is Found panel, the first six panels employ vivid realism to depict the mythical animal in a naturalistic world. In the last panel, the space is transformed into a realm of flowers, millefleur, and grace. Written and narrated by Dr. James Romaine.