"The most beautiful decorations in the room, indisputably, were those curious, enigmatic tapestries."
George Sand (author)
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Make way! It’s 1882 and a series of extraordinary tapestries are rolling up to the gates of Paris’ Musée de Cluny. According to the experts, these six works discovered in Creuse, a region in central France, represent the five senses.
Wait, wait. Six tapestries that represent five senses? Is this a case of fuzzy math?
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View from the room of Lady and the Unicorn showing four of the six tapestries. Musée de Cluny - National Museum of the Middle Ages, Paris. Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais / Michel Urtado.
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These exceptional pieces were created around 1500. Back then, Millefleurs ("thousand flowers") tapestries—which were covered in plants and animals—were quite trendy. The person who commissioned them didn’t skimp on expenses; the quality of their red background is exceptional.
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Lady and the Unicorn: My Only Desire, 4th quarter of the 15th century - 1st quarter of the 16th century, tapestry, Musée de Cluny - National Museum of the Middle Ages, Paris. Detail of the work. Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais / Michel Urtado.
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In all the wall hangings, we see a beautiful blonde woman going about her business, accompanied by a lion and a unicorn. Her various actions exemplify the different senses: feeding a bird (taste), playing music (sound), sniffing some flowers (smell), caressing the unicorn’s horn (touch) and showing the magical creature its reflection (sight). Yep, that’s five alright.
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Lady and the Unicorn: The View, 4th quarter of the 15th century - 1st quarter of the 16th century, tapestry, Musée de Cluny - National Museum of the Middle Ages, Paris. Detail of the work. Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais / Michel Urtado.
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In the sixth panel, the woman stands in front of a tent with the words Mon Seul Désir ("My Only Desire") inscribed above the entryway. It’s a clue: the curious sixth sense must be that of the "heart"!
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Lady and the Unicorn: My Only Desire, 4th quarter of the 15th century - 1st quarter of the 16th century, tapestry, Musée de Cluny - National Museum of the Middle Ages, Paris. Detail of the work. Photo: © RMN-Grand Palais / Michel Urtado.
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No one knows for sure how to interpret the "heart" hanging, as the word was once used to reference both reason and carnal love. The woman’s gesture doesn’t help to clarify things either. Placed beside a jewelry box, she could be putting away her fine gems (a sign of intellectual superiority) or removing them from their coffer.
The ambiguity might be intentional. In the 16th century, viewers loved works with mysterious or double meanings. The Lady and the Unicorn, passed down through history, still has us scratching our heads.
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LEARN MORE
The Lady and the Unicorn hides a number of secrets. To learn more about this masterpiece and how it was made, head to the Musée de Cluny, which specializes in art from the Middle Ages. Its collections are housed in a gorgeous medieval building, the Hôtel de Cluny, in Paris.
Unable to see the tapestries in person? Check out this video that offers a close-up view like you've never seen.
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 The most beautiful decorations in the room, indisputably, were those curious, enigmatic tapestries.
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George Sand (author) 
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When were the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries created?
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Contact Co-Founders Coline and Jean at hello@artips.co.
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