I won't pretend that the Cluny Museum has ever been my highest priority in Paris, but I've legitimately tried to go at least three times. Once, the museum was under significant renovations and was closed. On another visit, the day I had time to go to the museum was the day of the week that the museum was closed. On my last visit, the museum was open, but when I walked up to the ticket booth I learned that the famous Unicorm Tapestries weren't being displayed that day.
So . . . imagine my excitement when we were wandering in Sydney and saw a banner on the Art Gallery of New South Wales announcing that they were in Sydney. We had to see them! Well, I had to see them, and Seth was interested in coming and so the kids had to tag along.
Honestly, I can't remember ever being very impressed by any tapestry. And while I expected to appreciate these as cultural enrichment, and I was excited to cross them off my to-see list, I wasn't expecting to be wowed by them. But they were stunning. The details are remarkable and weaving is exceptionally fine. Most of the threads are wool, but some are silk.
There are six tapestries in this set. They were created around the year 1500, but who they were made by or who they were made for are historical mysteries. It is also unknown if the lady of the tapestries is a depiction of a real person. It's certain that the unicorn isn't real.
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| The words on the tent can be translated into "My only desire" or "with my unique desire". The artist's intended interpretation isn't clear. |
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| This tapestry represents the sense of hearing. The Lady is playing an organ powered by a bellows. |
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| This tapestry represents the sense of sight. |
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| This panel represents the sense of smell. The Lady is making a chain of flowers. |
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| The sense of taste (she's eating a treat--perhaps a candied almond). |
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| The sense of touch. |
Never impressed by a tapestry before? Obviously, you have not been to Bayeux!
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