Tattoo from Unicorn
tattoo of a Fountain for @_niklahum
"Hunt of the Unicorn" – This tapestry shows a unicorn kneeling beside a tall white fountain, where two pheasants and two goldfinches are perched. Various animals, both exotic and European, are resting nearby. In the background, twelve hunters are discussing their discovery of the unicorn.
Plants in the scene, like sage, marigolds, and orange, were believed in medieval times to cure poison. The stream flowing from the fountain is being purified by the unicorn’s magical horn, highlighting the symbolic role of nature in the Unicorn Tapestries. The tattoo work focuses on the fountain at the center, bringing attention to its intricate details and significance.
The Unicorn Tapestries, also known as the Hunt of the Unicorn (French: La Chasse à la licorne), are a set of seven tapestries created in the South Netherlands between 1495–1505. Now housed at The Cloisters in New York, they likely originated from Paris and depict noblemen and hunters pursuing a unicorn through an idyllic French landscape. Made from wool, silk, and metallic threads, their vibrant colors—derived from dye plants like weld (yellow), madder (red), and woad (blue)—have remarkably endured over time.
First documented in 1680 at the Rochefoucauld family residence in Paris, the tapestries were looted during the French Revolution and later rediscovered in a barn in the 1850s. They were subsequently displayed at the family's Château de Verteuil. Over the years, scholars have debated their symbolism, the artists behind them, and the intended order of their display. While many theories exist—ranging from chivalric to Christological interpretations—the tapestries' origins remain a mystery.
Interestingly, variations in size, style, and composition suggest that they may belong to multiple sets, connected by thematic elements, provenance, and the enigmatic AE monogram found on each piece. Among the panels, The Mystic Capture of the Unicorn survives only in two fragments, adding another layer of intrigue to these legendary works of art.