---
title: The Unicorn Crosses a Stream
author: Hillary Smith
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12958/the-unicorn-crosses-a-stream/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# The Unicorn Crosses a Stream

_Authored by [Hillary Smith](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/hillarysmith/)_

## Image File

[![The Unicorn Crosses a Stream](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12958.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/12958.jpg)

## Image Caption

"The Unicorn Crosses a Stream" 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. In "The Unicorn Crosses a Stream," the unicorn has become aware of the hunters and tries to flee as the hunters begin their attack. 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 between 1495 – 1505 CE, 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.

## About the Author

Hillary Smith holds master's degrees in Art History (University College Dublin) and Public Policy (UCLA). Interested in the nexus of art and policy, she is a believer in the soft power potential of cultural heritage to transform and connect our world.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillaryssmith/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Smith, H. (2020, October 21). The Unicorn Crosses a Stream. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12958/the-unicorn-crosses-a-stream/>
### Chicago
Smith, Hillary. "The Unicorn Crosses a Stream." *World History Encyclopedia*, October 21, 2020. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12958/the-unicorn-crosses-a-stream/>.
### MLA
Smith, Hillary. "The Unicorn Crosses a Stream." *World History Encyclopedia*, 21 Oct 2020, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12958/the-unicorn-crosses-a-stream/>.

## 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/467639) by **[Hillary Smith](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/hillarysmith/ "User Page: Hillary Smith")**. 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.