Unicorn: The Mythical Beast in Art
The unicorn has stimulated the imagination like no other animal. It has been documented in many cultures for centuries. Its fascination continues to this day. The mythical animal is a multi-facetted symbol that emanates associative energy. Tracks of the unicorn can be found in Christian and non-European art, in natural science and medicine and in a wide range of symbols. Studying the iconography of the unicorn invites reflection on fantasy, world knowledge, ambivalences and projections.
The exhibition Unicorn. The Mythical Beast in Art presents over 100 artworks from international lenders, including the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, and numerous other collections, primarily from Germany and France.
Marie Cecile Thijs
Marie Cecile Thijs: White Unicorn, ca. 2015
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Alessandro Varotari Padovanino: Orpheus und die Tiere, 1. Hälfte 17. Jahrhundert
The range of exhibits covers a period from the second millennium BC to the present day and includes paintings and prints as well as sculptures, manuscripts, tapestries and art chamber objects. On display are works by artists such as Arnold Böcklin, Albrecht Dürer, Angela Hampel, Gustave Moreau, Joachim Sandrart and Marie Cecile Thijs.
Image: Jürgen Karpinski
The exhibition Unicorn: The Mythical Beast in Art will be on display at the Musée de Cluny in Paris from March 16 to June 28, 2026.