Unicorns! : The Cluny Museum in Paris showcases an exhibition delving into the myth of the legendary creature

In Paris, the Musée de Cluny – National Museum of the Middle Ages is dedicating a significant exhibition to the unicorn, a mythical creature that has come to symbolize purity, mystery, and medieval imagination over the centuries. Running from March 10 to July 12, 2026, the exhibition Unicorns!—organized in collaboration with the Barberini Museum in Potsdam and the Grand Palais—offers a journey that blends scientific inquiry with poetic storytelling, delving into the history and symbolic significance of this legendary creature.

Spanning ten thematic sections and featuring nearly a hundred works, the exhibition explores the centuries-old allure of the unicorn in art and culture. Exceptional pieces loaned by major international museums — including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, and the Louvre Museum — shed light on the many depictions of this legendary creature across the ages.

A fascinating creature through the centuries

A mythical creature, the unicorn was long believed to be real. Inaccessible and untameable, it has inspired artists since ancient times. Marco Polo himself claimed to have encountered one during his travels in Asia. Ancient traces attest to its universal spread: a seal engraved in the Indus Valley around 2000 BC, a Qilin carved during the Han dynasty in China (around 206–220), and a 17th-century Turkish earthenware dish depicting a unicorn alongside a deer and a lion.

The exhibition also highlights European depictions, including that of Canon Bernhard von Breydenbach. In his Holy Journey to Jerusalem (late 15th century), he describes the unicorn among the exotic animals encountered during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

A medieval icon revisited

The Musée de Cluny, home to the famous La Dame à la licorne tapestries, provides an ideal setting for this exhibition. This series of six hangings from the early XVIᵉ century, a masterpiece of medieval art, illustrates the five senses - touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight - as well as a sixth tapestry marked with the motto À mon seul désir. These richly symbolic works will be at the heart of the tour, serving as a starting point for exploring the myth.

Already in 2018, the museum devoted an exhibition entitled Magiques Licornes to this legendary creature, which met with great interest. The new 2026 exhibition will follow in the same vein, delving into artistic and religious representations of the unicorn, from the Renaissance to the present day.

Between symbolism, spirituality and contemporary society

The works presented will evoke the different facets of the unicorn: sometimes wild, as on a silver Torah crown from 1778, sometimes healing, as in the Victoria and Albert Museum's Danny Jewel, designed around 1550 to contain a fragment of unicorn horn - actually a narwhal tooth - reputed to neutralize poisons.

The exhibition will also show the evolution of myth in modern and contemporary art. The animal, once associated with Christ in medieval symbolism, sometimes becomes a figure of inclusion and emancipation. A Ukrainian crest from 2020, preserved in the Museum Barberini, depicts the unicorn as a queer symbol and emblem of resistance in the face of oppression. In addition, artists such as Niki de Saint Phalle and Suzanne Husky have reinterpreted the unicorn in recent works exhibited at Cluny, such as La Licorne and La noble pastorale.

The unicorn in the history of art and precious objects

Fascination with unicorns was also expressed in curiosity cabinets or the furniture of grand residences. Rosenborg Castle, in Copenhagen, preserves a 17thᵉ century tankard carved from a narwhal tooth and decorated with small silver unicorns. These objects testify to the persistence of the myth over the centuries, between wonder and superstition.

Through these diverse pieces, the exhibition highlights the universal appeal of the unicorn, symbolizing purity, power, and mystery. Its recurring presence in both Western and Eastern art underscores a shared imagination that spans cultures and eras.

A Thematic Journey into the Myth Explained

The exhibition's journey unfolds across several sections, each delving into the diverse interpretations of the unicorn throughout history. The initial chambers focus on how the mythical creature has been depicted across various civilizations, from ancient tales of the Near East to Asian traditions, where creatures resembling unicorns appear—sometimes depicted as hybrids of real and fantastical animals.

Another section of the exhibit explores the role of the unicorn in scholarly texts and medieval bestiaries, where it is portrayed as a inhabiting remote lands. Writers of the period describe its sometimes peaceful demeanor, drawn to music and the gentle presence of young girls, yet also highlight its wild and combative nature when confronting other animals.

Religious symbolism also plays a significant role in the exhibition. In medieval Christian iconography, the unicorn is often depicted as a figure linked to Christ and the Incarnation. This is especially evident in the so-called mystical hunt scene, where capturing the creature alludes to the Passion. Meanwhile, the unicorn evolves into a symbol of purity and courtly love in literary tales and artistic representations from the late Middle Ages.

The exhibition also explores the scientific evolution of the unicorn myth starting from the Renaissance, when naturalists began to question the existence of the land unicorn. The iconic unicorn horns, long preserved in royal and religious treasures, were eventually identified as narwhal tusks from the Arctic seas.

A historical and artistic look at the unicorn

The Unicorn! exhibition at the Musée de Cluny will appeal to a wide audience, especially those interested in mythology, medieval art, and symbolic imagery. History enthusiasts, iconography buffs, and fans of visual culture will appreciate the scholarly and well-documented approach. Families are also well-catered for, as the exhibition has been designed with young visitors in mind. The content is made accessible through simplified labels and dedicated programming for children, even though the overall scenography remains quite traditional.

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This visit encourages a fresh perspective on a figure we often think we know. Blending ancient traditions, contemporary artistic reinterpretations, and emerging cultural symbols, the unicorn persists in capturing the collective imagination and inspiring stories that go far beyond its medieval roots.

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