Artwork
Coat of Arms with a Lion and Unicorn
Coat of Arms with a Lion and Unicorn is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master hw. It dates from 1485 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Coat of Arms with a Lion and Unicorn* is an early print made by engraving around 1485. Executed in black and white, the image presents a heraldic composition that combines two mythic beasts flanking a central shield. The design is enclosed by ornamental scrollwork that suggests vines or flame motifs, giving the piece a decorative border.
Subject & Meaning
At the apex of the composition a unicorn, its horn rendered in a spiral twist, stands atop the shield, while beneath it a lion rears on its hind legs, front paws raised and gazing upward. The juxtaposition of these symbols—unicorn representing purity and lion denoting courage—reflects common heraldic conventions of the late medieval period, where such creatures signified lineage and virtues.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by engraving, a printmaking process in which a sharp burin incises lines directly into a metal plate. The artist varied line density and thickness to create contrasts of light and shadow, allowing the figures to emerge with a sense of volume. The surrounding foliage‑like motifs are achieved through fine, repetitive strokes that convey movement and texture.
History & Provenance
Attributed to an anonymous master identified only as “Master hw,” the print survives in a limited number of copies held by European collections. Its dating to the mid‑1480s places it among the earliest examples of heraldic engraving in Northern Europe, though no specific patron or original commission is documented.
Context
Created during a period when printed heraldic imagery began to supplement hand‑painted armorial rolls, the work illustrates the growing accessibility of personal and dynastic symbols. The use of both lion and unicorn anticipates later royal emblems, notably those later adopted by the British monarchy, indicating the enduring visual language of chivalric identity.
Artist & collection
