---
title: The Unicorn Purifies Water
author: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12957/the-unicorn-purifies-water/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# The Unicorn Purifies Water
_Authored by The Metropolitan Museum of Art_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12957.jpg)
## Image Caption
"The Unicorn Purifies Water" is one of seven tapestries in the "Unicorn Tapestries" group. These allegorical tapestries depict the hunting of a unicorn, a mythological animal common to European folklore. "The Unicorn Purifies Water" is a great example of the healing powers attributed to the unicorn’s horn. The unicorn is surrounded by plants used in medieval times as antidotes to poison, such as sage and pot marigold. All the while, the unicorn is unknowingly being watched by the group of hunters. The tapestries originally belonged the Le Rochefoucald family of France, and the earliest record of them confirms that they were hanging in the [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/) home of François VI de La Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680 CE) by 1680 CE. The tapestries are thought to have been woven in Brussels, although they were designed in Paris, France. The Unicorn Tapestries are now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and are housed in the Met Cloisters.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Art, T. M. M. o. (2020, October 21). The Unicorn Purifies Water. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Art, The Metropolitan Museum of. "The Unicorn Purifies Water." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 21, 2020. .
### MLA
Art, The Metropolitan Museum of. "The Unicorn Purifies Water." *World History Encyclopedia*, 21 Oct 2020, .
## License & Copyright
© [Metropolitan Museum of Art](http://metmuseum.org/), NY. As part of the [Met's Open Access policy](https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/policies-and-documents/open-access), the Metropolitan Museum of Art has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this dataset. [Original image](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/467638) by [**The Metropolitan Museum of Art**](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/467638). Submitted by [Hillary Smith](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/hillarysmith/ "User Page: Hillary Smith"), published on 21 October 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.