The Unicorn Purifying a Source
n.d.
Medium
Etching and engraving on paper
Dimensions
Plate: 22.3 × 39.9 cm (8 13/16 × 15 3/4 in.); Sheet: 22.7 × 40.2 cm (8 15/16 × 15 7/8 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
111935
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The series History of the Unicorn, of which this engraving is a part, earned Duvet the title, "Master of the Unicorn." Throughout the series, the unicorn serves as a symbol for Henry II and Diane de Poitiers.
Art Historical Context
In this etching and engraving, a unicorn stands at the center of a wooded stream, lowering its horn toward the water while a crowd of animals gathers closely around it. Horses, lions, a boar, and a leopard drink or rest along the banks, and a peacock perches among the trees. A bridge and distant city appear in the background, all rendered through dense, precise lines that fill the rectangular plate with lively detail. Jean Duvet created The Unicorn Purifying a Source to illustrate a well-known medieval legend in which the unicorn’s horn cleanses poisoned waters so other creatures may drink safely. Working in the sixteenth century, Duvet combined etching and engraving to produce richly textured prints that blend observation of the natural world with symbolic storytelling. The result invites viewers to explore both the intricate surface of the print and the story it quietly unfolds.
About the Artist
Jean Duvet · 1485–1570
Jean Duvet (1485–after 1562), a pioneering French goldsmith and engraver from the provincial heartlands of Dijon and Langres, emerged as the first significant printmaker in France. Born to a Dijon goldsmith, he trained in the family trade and rose swiftly, becoming master of the Dijon Goldsmiths' Guild by 1509. Duvet's early career blended goldsmithing with engraving; no specific teachers are docu...