Recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on Fifth Avenue and 81st Street in New York City - Assignment Example

The Medieval Galleries: Art Review 15th November, The Unicorn is Attacked is a tapestry from the Unicorn Tapestries, found inthe Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It dates from between 1495–1505. It was woven in the Netherlands (South Netherlandish) using silk, wool warp with wool, gift wefts and silver. Its overall dimensions is 145 by 168 inches and it is classified under textiles-tapestries. The unicorn tapestries were a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr., in 1937. The tapestry’s accession number is 37.80.3.

This tapestry describes the unicorn’s hunt. Tradition prohibits the disruption of the unicorn while it is carrying out a magical act. The hunters will thus have to wait. The attack thus commences soon after the action portrayed in The Unicorn Is Found; the scene is full of commotion and chaos.The battle’s ferociousness is conveyed by the congregating lances which are aimed at the animal, the frightening hounds and the frightening sound of the pursuing horns. The wounded unicorn, amid the confusion makes a desperate attempt to across a stream to escape his converging hunters.

Hounds were used in medieval times for hunting stags. They scouted and chased and ultimately attacked the prey. The splendid castle on the background is a clear indication this was a noble’s hunt, probably even by the royalty. Different from The Unicorn in Captivity tapestry and The Hunters Enter the Woods tapestry, this tapestry in conjunction with several other tapestries, are set in convincing landscapes which have the effect of augmenting the drama of the unicorn’s hunt. Having such a piece of art at home is a fulfilling experience considering its religious significance.

Its acknowledged as a representation of Christ among many Christians.A Madonna is a representation of Mary, with her child Jesus. The Madonna and Child statues are dominant icons among Catholics and in Orthodoxy. An example of a Madonna with Child is one in Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk), Bruges, Belgium. Just a look at this statue is very fulfilling and is always the best moment during the visit. One cannot get enough of the Michelangelo statue when travelling to Bruges. Although it direly needs restoration, the experience is magnificent and fulfilling.

Its the only statue of the Michelangelo to ever leave Italy during his time. It was carved in the early 1500s, at the same time Michelangelo was working on the statue of David in Florence. Originally meant for the Sienna cathedral, it was bought by a wealthy noble, when the church at Sienna could not afford to purchase it, and donated to the church at Bruges. This sculpture is one of the prominent Man-Made wonder of the medieval era. The small fee charged to view the statue is worth the experience.

Its not surprising that the sculpture is the main tourist attraction in Bruges. Michelangelo is credited for many works but this is a masterpiece. The attention to detail put on the statue is just amazing. The expressions on the statue are also breathtaking. The child being held on his mothers arms of his mother adds so much to the statue and few other similar statues have been able to match this expression.References:Sullivan, M. (2007, January 1). Images of the Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo.

Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/belgium/bruges/michelangelo/madonna.html The Unicorn is Attacked (from the Unicorn Tapestries) | South Netherlandish | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (2014, January 1). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/467639