The Unicorn Rests in a Garden Large Framed Print By Metropolitan Museum Of Art

A beautifully presented framed print of The Unicorn Rests in a Garden (also known as The Unicorn in Captivity), the most celebrated panel from the legendary The Unicorn Tapestries.

The original medieval tapestry dates to the late 15th century and is part of the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, displayed at The Cloisters, New York.


This example is an official 1998 print poster published by the Metropolitan Museum, faithfully reproducing the famous millefleurs (thousand flowers) garden scene with the unicorn enclosed within a circular fence—an enduring symbol of purity, love, and mysticism in medieval art.



“The Unicorn Rests in a Garden" may have been created as a single image rather than part of a series. In this instance, the unicorn probably represents the beloved tamed. He is tethered to a tree and constrained by a fence, but the chain is not secure and the fence is low enough to leap over: The unicorn could escape if he wished. Clearly, however, his confinement is a happy one, to which the ripe, seed-laden pomegranates in the tree—a medieval symbol of fertility and marriage—testify. The red stains on his flank do not appear to be blood, as there are no visible wounds like those in the hunting series; rather, they represent juice dripping from bursting pomegranates above. Many of the other plants represented here, such as wild orchid, bistort, and thistle, echo this theme of marriage and procreation: they were acclaimed in the Middle Ages as fertility aids for both men and women. Even the little frog, nestled among the violets at the lower right, was cited by medieval writers for its noisy mating.


Frame

• Handsome ornate gilt frame with classic twisted rope and foliate detailing

• Traditional style that complements medieval and historic artwork

• Glazed and ready to hang

• Frame presents the print beautifully and adds significant decorative impact


The frame measures approx 78cm x 104.5cm