Unicorn

by Lise Gotfredsen

The unicorn is a much-loved subject in both Eastern and Western cultures, gracing illuminated manuscripts, paintings, tapestries, ceramics, and coats of arms. This wide-ranging cultural history traces... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0789205955
• ISBN13: 9780789205957
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Abbeville Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.6" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

The Unicorn exists!

The funny thing is that in spite of the fact that very few humans have actually seen a unicorn (!) we all seem to have a clear image in our heads of how it looks! Some kind of achetype, a symbolic animal that we need in our visual language in order to express parts of our inner life. I am a Land Artist working with wood and trees, and Lise Gotfredsen first caught my attention years ago with the original Danish edition of her book on the Unicorn. I created several sculptures in dead trees in the forest particularly inspired by her book and the wonderful myths connected with the Unicorn. I sent some photos to Lise Gotfredsen, thanking her for the inspiration, and to my wonderful surprise she chose to incorporate 2 of them in this extraordinary English version of the book. Is the Unicorn a potent symbol even today? Find out more by reading and looking at images in this clever and very beautiful book.

Very Beautiful Overview of the History and Art of the Animal

In this book, not only does the author provide a magnificent selection of the best art on the unicorn, but she gives an excellent summary of its history and interpretation. Perhaps the unicorn was "born" in India where it was thought that two horns were good for sexuality and one horn was even better. As we see throughout history, the unicorn was consistently given sexual power which could only be tamed by a virtuous maiden. The author explained how even the tale of Enkidu (in the Gilgamesh epic of Mesopotamia) is related to the unicorn - a connection I hadn't realized. A good buy.

The Unicorn

I was impressed to see the fantastic artwork in this book. it is a wonderful collection, and it is so nice to see a book that includes detailed descriptions of the unicorn, the artwork and mythology around it, not to mention the way the unicorn "myth" has evolved over the years. It is well worth the book if you like unicorns, artwork or mythology as it is rich in all of it. The book is great for artists because of the descriptions included, so it allows for personal as well as previous ideas to emerge!

a personal opinion

This book was absolutely lovely. I found it enchanting from the first moment I picked it up. It is filled with loads of information on myths of the unicorn and its european folk lore. This is a book not for just the young, but for all ages. It is a sure treasure on any bookshelf.

Beautiful

I loved "The Unicorn". The author has done a fantastic job with this book. I love Unicorns with all my heart and this book truly touched my very soul. I would like to thank the author personally, you have no idea how much "The Unicorn" meant to me.