I created this painting to highlight my
ideas for the translation of the French
phrase written into the original tapestry.
In The Lady with the Unicorn tapestry
series created in the 1480s CE, it is
generally accepted that the first five
tapestries represent the five senses. The
interpretation of of the sixth tapestry, “À
Mon Seul Désir,” remains uncertain. I
propose that the French words, “à mon
seul désir,” translate to “with my unique
desire,” meaning that people are the only
species that covet material objects even
as we share the five senses with animals.
The interpretation of people
alone valuing material objects ties the
individual representations of the six
tapestries together and allows them to
flow towards the realization that, while
people may live alongside the natural
and mythical worlds (in medieval times,
likely considered the same), they remain
separate due to their unique desires.