Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

Title: Annunciation as Hunt of the Unicorn
Creator:
Description: This lectern hanging combines the Annunciation taking place in a walled garden with another visual trope, that of the Hunt of the Unicorn where Mary is the young virgin who coaxes the unicorn's head into her lap. The unicorn in this case represents the Word of God incarnate, and it has been chased into the garden by the archangel Gabriel, who blows a hunting horn, and his dogs, here labeled as veritas, pax, mi(sericordi)a and justitia. God the Father looks into the garden from the outside. Within the walls Mary is accompanied by Old Testament types for the Virgin and/or the Incarnation: the ivory tower, Gideon's fleece, the morning sun, the covered fountain, the golden urn and the flowering rod of Aaron at an altar.
Source: WikiMedia Commons
Rights: Public domain
Subject (See Also): Angels Hunting Liturgical Hangings Mary, Virgin, Saint- Annunciation Textiles Typology Unicorns
Geographic Area: Germany
Century: 15
Date: la. 1400s
Related Work:
Current Location: Germany, Ebstorf Cathedral Chapter, Inv.-Nr. EBS Hb8
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Textiles
Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Wool; Gold and silver thread
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm): 32.5cm/44 cm/
Inscription:
Related Resources: