A mon seul Desir tapestry

The set of five tapestries representing the senses is completed by this piece : To My Only Desire. The young lady not only refuses jewels presented to her by her maidservant, but even puts away her necklace in the jewel box. This scene may show the renunciation of the pleasure of the senses. The tapestry was woven according to characteristic models of Parisian Art, at the end of the XVth century. It is in the national museum of the Middle Ages, Cluny Museum, in Paris.

A Mon Seul Désir represents the last piece of the six hangings of the Lady of the Unicorn.

Indeed, this work of art, “The Lady with the Unicorn”, is a constitution of six hangings dating from the beginning of the French Renaissance which would evoke an allegory of the five senses and of desire.

The evocation of the five senses represented by this work is enriched by the representation, on the last hanging A Mon Seul Désir, of the refusal of the jewels, which testifies to the moral strength of the Lady, able to master the power of her senses.

The original tapestry was woven according to models characteristic of an important trend in Parisian art at the end of the 15th century. This large tapestry can be seen today in the National Museum of the Middle Ages at the Hôtel de Cluny in Paris.

The tapestry “A mon seul désir”, shown below, remains the most famous Unicorn Lady tapestry, even if the Unicorn tapestry is also of great interest to Unicorn enthusiasts!

Do not hesitate to consult our page on the history of the Lady of the Unicorn, to know more about this work and the tapestries.