The Lion Hunt

The Lion Hunt
Rubens, Peter Paul, 1617-1618

In this painting, Rubens creates a masterful depiction of a wild and chaotic battle between man and beast, and finds an enticing balance between the emotional reactions of the viewer and a fascination of the exotic.

Many of the dukes and nobility that commissioned these works had either been hunting in the exotic lands, and had captured animals such as tigers and lions to bring back to their estates, or were fascinated by what they had heard about the exotic. An important aspect of these hunting scenes to remember was that during the sixteenth century hunting was prohibited to the majority of the population; only the nobility and royalty were given permission to hunt.

Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria commissioned the original hunting scenes, which initiated commissions by other nobility including, James 1st Duke of Hamilton, Comte d’Arenberg and Sir Dudley Carleton.

The Snake Charmer - Jean Leone Gerome

Painted by Jean Leone Gerome (1824 - 1904) is an oil on canvas and was displayed at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. A complete history of the painting can be found HERE.

Unicorn Is Found At The Fountain Tapestry

This beautiful tapestry (circa 1496-1505 CE) is one of the finest surviving examples of tapestry art from the Gothic period. Many times, tapestries such as this one were part of a series or set, in this case, called The Cloisters Collection.

Unicorn Is Found At The Fountain allows us to appreciate the rich colors and the subtlety such as in the modeling of the faces. The tonal variations in the animal furs and rich details demonstrate the vast technical skills of weavers of the day. Measuring 12 feet 1 inch by 12 feet 5 inches, it is both dramatic and commanding in presence. It is presently owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and was a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr.