ExhibitionThe Lady and the Unicorn
An outstanding exhibition that puts the masterpiece of medieval art in conversation with contemporary works at the Musée des Abattoirs in Toulouse.
A masterpiece of the medieval period
The hanging of "The Lady and the Unicorn" is composed of 6 tapestries more than 3 meters high. This is one of the most beautiful works of the Middle Ages. Made around 1500, full of symbols and intrigue, the work is fascinating due to the richness of its decorations and its finesse.
Five tapestries represent the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The sixth tapestry, which bears the inscription "My Only Desire", is said to express a sixth and very mysterious sense, that of the heart.
The presentation of the tapestries at Les Abattoirs is accompanied by a collection of works by contemporary artists to put "The Lady and the Unicorn" into a contemporary perspective as a founding work of respect for nature and the representation of women.
A dedicated cultural programme will highlight the influence of the Middle Ages on contemporary art.
Did you know? The Lady and the Unicorn, kept at the Musée de Cluny - Musée National du Moyen Âge, has already been in Toulouse. It was in the Ville Rose that the work was stored away during the First World War.
A conversation with Picasso
"The Lady and the Unicorn" will also be set against Les Abattoirs' masterpiece, Picasso's stage curtain, "The Remains of Minotaur in a Harlequin costume", produced in 1936 for the play "Quatorze-Juillet" by Romain Rolland.
Picasso's work is a fragile piece of art that is only exhibited for 6 months of the year to protect it from the light and its own weight, as it is over 8 metres high and 13 metres wide.
Informationspratiques
Exhibition from 16th October 2021 to 16th January 2022.
Open from Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 6pm. Late-night opening on Thursdays until 8pm.
Full price: 9 €. Concessions: €7 or €6
Thursdays at Les Abattoirs, from 6pm: €3
Free entry with the Pass tourisme and on the first Sunday of every month.
Les Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse
76 allées Charles-de-Fitte - 31300 Toulouse
