A Unicorn Chasing Lizards from a Pond c. 16th century

Curator: This is Antonio Tempesta's "A Unicorn Chasing Lizards from a Pond." Tempesta was an Italian artist working in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Editor: The scene is unsettling, almost feverish, with that powerful unicorn and those reptiles all packed into a small space. Curator: Tempesta was known for his battle scenes and landscapes, often filled with dramatic action. Here, he uses an engraving technique to create a sense of depth. Editor: It’s a violent little drama. The unicorn as an agent of change, disrupting the status quo represented by the lizards and snakes. What does it all mean? Curator: Unicorns have a rich history in European art and literature, often symbolizing purity, grace, and power. The pond’s creatures likely signify the opposite. Editor: But disrupting their habitat? Is the image saying that purity violently displaces nature? Perhaps it hints at religious intolerance of the era? Curator: It certainly provides much to consider. Editor: It does; thanks for the insight.