The annunciation scene has a very rare iconography, in which the scene of the mystical hunt of the unicorn is added. Archangel gabriel is likened to a horn-blowing huntress with dogs, pursuing the unicorn, which finds intercession with the virgin mary. According to legend, the hunters can catch the unicorn only when it loses its cunning and strength before the purity of the virgin mary. Just as christ finds earthly incarnation in the womb of the virgin mary through the immaculate conception. The virgin mary is praised as the earthly refuge of the mystical unicorn christ. The pack of dogs accompanying archangel gabriel personifies christian virtues. At the same time, the dogs can denote the monks of the dominican order (domini canes), who strive for mercy, peace and comprehension of divine truth (inscriptions on the packages next to them). Object Type: painting. Date: 1489. Dimensions: 51 × 57 cm (20 × 22.4 in). Medium: oil on panel. Collection: Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Unicorn hunt - Martin Schongauer (circle)
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