hearing

The second tapestry

he lady plays a a portable one-manual pipe organ that may be moved without first being disassembled.... on top of a table covered with a Turkish carpet.

Her maidservant stands to the opposite side and operates the bellows. The lion and unicorn once again frame the scene holding up the pennants. Just as on all the other tapestries, the unicorn is to the lady's left and the lion to her right - a common denominator to all the tapestries.

 sight

n this first tapestry of the series, the sense of “Sight” has been interpreted by the princess holding a mirror in which the unicorn is reflected.

Clearly, the unicorn is a mythical creature. This fabled creature is considered symbolic of virginity and usually represented as a horse with a single straight spiraled horn projecting from its forehead.

Earliest references, of the unicorn portray it as fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously beautiful. The unicorn could only be captured by deception; the single horn is believed to be able to neutralize poison.

This may be a reflection of our unconscious self, sometimes only sensed emerging indirectly into our consciousness.

desire

À Mon Seul Désir

his tapestry is wider than the others, and has a somewhat different style. The lady stands in front of a tent, across the top which reads "À Mon Seul Désir" (obscure: according to my desire alone / by my will alone / love desires only beauty of soul / to calm passion).

Her maidservant stands to the right, holding open a chest. The lady is placing the necklace she wears in the other tapestries into the chest. To her left is a low bench with bags of coins on it.

The unicorn and the lion stand in their normal spots framing the lady while holding onto the pennants.

Touch

he lady touches the unicorn’s horn with her left hand, while the lion sits to the side, just looking on.

This seems to signify that the unicorn has been tamed by the lady’s touch, and simultaneously suggests the recognition of the duality between the unconscious desires and conscious awareness of one’s self.

The lady’s other hand is holding a pennant showing the coat of arms of Jean Le Viste, the sponsor of the series and a powerful nobleman in the court of King Charles VII.

Smell

ady and the Unicorn Tapestry depicts the young woman braiding a trail of carnations. Carnations were
generally used to represent betrothal and loyalty.

The unicorn is tamed by the scent of the flowers and by the purity of
the Lady as she weaves them. Once again, the Lady is standing in a commanding position over the unicorn.

This could illustrate the Lady's unfinished journey toward spirituality--she is still on a different level than the mystical unicorn.

 taste

n The Taste Unicorn tapestry, the Lady is depicted reaching her hand into a bowl of fruit, possibly grapes. Her eyes are on a parakeet on her upheld left hand.

The lion and the unicorn are both standing on their hind legs reaching up to pennants that frame the lady on either side. The monkey is at her feet, eating one of the candies.

She is still attached the physical world, and still reaches for sustenance that she feels she needs. She is still in a standing position, ut the unicorn is now rearing back on its hind legs. The unicorn is closer to her level, but she has yet to submit to the
spiritual.