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Lot Essay
The image of the poet's chimerical unicorn impaled in a park has been popularised by Netherlandish tapestries since the 15th century. Specifically, this bronze relates to the Unicorn Tapestries, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Made at the end of the 15th century, the theme of the tapestries is the fight between the unicorn and the humans that pursue it. The imagery of the bronze is taken from the sixth tapestry in the series, where the unicorn lives again as the animal represents the hounding, killing and eventual resurrection of Christ. It is also symbolic of love and subservient devotion. According to tradition, the unicorn may only be trapped by a virginal maiden and the enclosure is representative of chastity. So here the unicorn represents not only the risen Christ but also the captured bridegroom.