Unicorn Defends Himself vs. The Elephant and the Obelisk

The Unicorn Defends Himself 1495 -Georgina Walmsley

This piece of artwork called, The Unicorn Defends Himself, was painted from 1495-1505.  It shows the dark colors of medieval times and the use of magic in lives.  In medieval artwork, the people depicted look flat and non humanistic as in this tapestry.  It was most likely hung in a castle or church to decorate the walls.  As time moved forward and the age of enlightenment began, artists started painting in shadows of peoples faces making them seem more realistic, unlike the very two dimensional people found in this tapestry.

The Elephant and the Obelisk- Zach Troidle

By: Bernini Piazza della Minerva 1667

This sculpture of the most famous pachyderm was crafted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Elephant and Obelisk was unveiled in the Piazza della Minerva in 1667. The statue was commissioned by pope Alexander VII. This piece was chosen for its change in topic. In general, most renaissance art has a religious relation, however this is just a sculpture of an elephant. Keeping with the other forms of the renaissance, the elephant shows extremely lifelike features, such as the ears and the trunk.

Compare and Contrast- Zach Troidle

There are many striking differences between the meanings and executions of these two works of art. The most obvious is the difference in realism between the pieces. In Elephant and Obelisk, the elephant demonstrates lifelike features such as his ears or his trunk. Overall, it demonstrates heavy use of realism. Meanwhile, the Unicorn Defends Himself is much less detailed, leaving the eye to wander about the piece before discovering the titular unicorn. However, there is much for that wandering eye to see. There is much more attention to background in the medieval piece, with the men, the dogs, the plants, and even the castle in the background. Both works show a slight deviation from the common trend of both eras, which is overwhelming allusion to religion.