DOLORES HERRERO
Art Historian, Gargoyle specialist.
Passionate about gargoyles
“Every time I approach a building with gargoyles, I am spellbound. These stony creatures, like silent onlookers, have always fascinated me.
Gargoyles are full of life. They are constantly changing before our gaze and watching us from above over the centuries”.
Dedicated to the research, study and collection of gargoyles.
Traveling, observer, writer, methodical worker, persevering and experienced in field work.Heritage Conservation
She is aware of the importance of encouraging, motivating and involving new historians and researchers in the study and conservation of the gargoyles in our country.
“As a historian and, above all, lover of art and our historical heritage, I am concerned about the conservation of gargoyles. Each of our gargoyles is an individual work of art, deserving to be studied and protected”.
Research
“Devoted to research, study and compilation of gargoyles. A traveller, observer, writer, methodical worker, perseverant and experienced in the field. “After having the privilege to see them close up and even touch them, I regard and admire them even more. Every time I see a gargoyle at close quarters, I appreciate every one of its parts, every gesture, every crack, every shape or style. It is as if the stone was talking to me and as if the figure was revealing an age with its methods of creation, thinking and living. In all my travels across Europe, China and the United States, I find new gargoyles to continue enriching my work”.
My blog of gargoyles
Latest articles published on the blog ...
Gargoyles and Masks
From time to time, you come across unusual gargoyles, figures with heads and faces that look different. They’re not common, which just makes them all the more surprising and fascinating. I’m referring here to gargoyles with mask-like faces, or which are holding...
Gargoyles Representing Death. Images of Gargoyles
Death is one of the most fascinating and sublime themes and images in literature and the visual arts. Macabre figures both attract and repel us. Due to its association with certain animals and all that is demonic, ugly and monstrous, death is sometimes...
Mythology and Fascinating Mythical Creatures in Gargoyles
In previous posts, we’ve seen gargoyles representing mythical or fabled animals. These astonishing, tantalising creatures have formed part of our traditions since ancient times. Each and every one of them is associated with a generally fantastical and beguiling...
The Enchanting, Magical Imagery of the Gargoyles at the Monastery of San Martín Pinario in Santiago de Compostela
Our first trip to Galicia took us to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Santiago de Compostela. It rained that day (what would Galicia be without rain!), but we loved it as much as ever because thanks to the rain, we could see the gargoyles spouting...
The Incredible, Unknown Gargoyles of El Burgo de Osma
Today, we’re going to look at some of the most exceptional and astounding gargoyles that I discovered during my work and research for my doctoral thesis. These are the wonderful, “secret” gargoyles in the north aisle of the cathedral in this beautiful...
Surprisingly Unnerving Gargoyles. The Devils in the Lantern Tower at the Cathedral of Burgos
As I always say, when gargoyles are severed from their function as water spouts, they are transformed into pure image. Contemplating them arouses a multiplicity of emotions. They are the expression of beauty or hideousness, but above all, they are art. In...
Testimonials
Santiago Manzarbeitia Valle
“In short, the gargoyle is our other self, the monster fed by medieval fantasy and that the stonemasons shaped creating an imagery of hybrid creatures with a strange nature and disquieting spirit. Lola Herrero has been on the rooftops of our cathedrals to record and classify the gargoyles, and she took them on and managed to interpret these versatile scours of medieval meanderings”.
Staff Professor of the Department of History of Art I (Medieval)
College of Geography and History of the Madrid Complutense University
Director of the PhD Thesis of Dolores Herrero
Matilde Azcárate Luxán
“Throughout her professional career, Lola Herrero has demonstrated a zeal and eagerness, and no challenges or circumstances could dampen the enthusiasm for her work. I had the honour of participating as a member of the assessment committee of her PhD thesis at the Madrid Complutense University, on the gargoyles of the Gothic cathedrals of Castilla y León, where she evinced her rigour and clear commitment to all of her work and, most particularly, the extensive photography archive presented in an exemplary way.”
Staff Professor of History of Art
Department of History of Art I (Medieval)
College of Geography and History of the Madrid Complutense University
Sira Gadea
“Lola is an analytical art historian, with work capacity, initiative and who is very able to work in a team given her high levels of empathy, and these are qualities, together with her special sensitivity, that allow her to pursue historical-artistic research, always exceeding all of the targets she sets herself. Moreover, her enthusiasm for her profession makes it easy for her to convey her love and respect for historical-artistic heritage, as she is aware that the more people know about it, the more it will be appreciated”.
Art Historian and writer of blog Viajar con el Arte
Ana Santamaría
“Lola and I completed a large part of the History of Art degree together. I have always admired, on the one hand, her ease for synthesis when setting out the main research lines to pursue when she seeks to study a topic and, on the other, her ease for the subsequent analytical development of the theme. Not forgetting, of course, the passion and hard work that she puts into anything she undertakes to do. This combination of skills is rounded off with easy and enjoyable writing that conveys the enthusiasm she feels for her work to all readers”.
PhD in History of Art and Diploma in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets
Alicia Rodés
“The gargoyles of Lola Herrero are to architecture what Erwin Panofsky is to image. Her work is essential to understand our art”.
Art Historian
Cristina Cerezales
“Lola Herrero has brought us closer to these mysterious gargoyles that inhabit cathedrals, sometimes peeping out of places beyond the gaze of ordinary visitors. This work is so rigorous and thorough that it is solely possible to do it the way she has: driven on by passion. The result of these years of work is of inestimable value, both for iconography scholars and for anyone who is interested in these figures that always glimpse at us in a strange way and whose mystery we could not understand without assistance”.
Writer