Gargoyles – Dolores Herrero

Gargopedia

Gargoyles in the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Aroche (Huelva, Spain)

Dolores Herrero Ferrio

 

In this entry, we travel to Andalusia to examine one of the most historically significant towns in the province of Huelva: Aroche.

In this locality stands the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the parish church that preserves the remarkable gargoyles analysed below.

 

Architecture and history of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

Its construction extended from the 14th to the 17th century, making it an outstanding architectural monument in which several artistic traditions coexist, including Mudéjar, Gothic, and Renaissance forms. Architects such as Hernán Ruíz II, Juan de Hoces, and Diego de Riaño were involved in its design and construction.

 

Gárgolas de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Aroche (Huelva).

 

 

The gargoyles of the church

The gargoyles are of considerable interest from both a formal and a thematic perspective. They will be examined below according to typology, following the usual classification method, beginning with representations of real animals.

 

Gargoyles Representing Real Animals

We begin with the figure of an eagle with its wings raised, a feature that can also be observed in other gargoyles, such as those of Burgos Cathedral (Spain). Beneath the figure there is an ornamental leaf, and the bird turns its head to the side, as seen in some examples at Oviedo Cathedral (Spain). In this case, however, the head turns in the opposite direction to that of the upper waterspout block, a compositional arrangement that integrates both elements—the block and the animal—into a perfectly unified sculptural form.

 

 

Two birds with finely detailed plumage, one of them characterized by a geometric pattern and oval eyes, complete the group of bird-shaped gargoyles of the church.

 

 

Three dog-shaped figures complete the group of real animals. The first wears a collar with a floral ornament and is a highly distinctive gargoyle due to its stylised coat, terminating in small spiral curls known as “caracolillos”; it also has defined pupils, a very elongated snout, and raises its front paws to its neck while holding a flower.

 

Gárgola de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Aroche (Huelva). Es un animal real: un perro con collar.

 

 

The second has folds around the mouth, or a “triple lip,” a coat that also terminates in small spiral curls (“caracolillos”), and raises its front paws to its mouth; it recalls a gargoyle from the parish church of San Pedro in Gata (Cáceres, Spain).

 

 

The third and final figure is a rampant dog with strongly defined folds around the mouth.

 

 

Gargoyle Representing a Demon

A demon with a dragon-like head and body holds a human head between its claws, possibly referring to the devil carrying away the soul of a sinner, an allusion that is sometimes found in gargoyles.

 

Gárgola demoníaca de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Aroche (Huelva).

 

Gargoyles Representing Geometric Forms and Objects

We now turn to the geometric gargoyles. These figures consist of a rectangular block with vegetal decoration on the sides and an ornamental element of two types beneath it. The first type of ornament is vegetal and features a double spiral on the sides, resembling a papyrus scroll rolled at the ends, an element also found in other gargoyles, such as those of Ávila Cathedral (Spain) and the parish church of San Pedro in Gata (Cáceres, Spain).

 

 

The second type of ornament features a triple spiral that extends along the body of the gargoyle, creating a sense of undulation.

 

 

The final gargoyle takes the form of a cannon, an artillery element frequently represented in Portugal (Batalha, Guarda, Jerónimos, Coimbra) and in Spain, at Burgos Cathedral.

 

Gárgola de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Aroche (Huelva). Es un cañón.

 

 

Grotesque Representing a Human Figure

The only human figure is a bust of a bearded man with his hands joined and resting on his lap, wearing historical attire and displaying a serious expression with a furrowed brow; a powerful image.

 

 

A Remarkable Group of Gargoyles in Aroche

In just 13 gargoyles, a wide range of typologies can be observed, featuring original elements, rich ornamentation, and highly precise carving. The geometric gargoyles are particularly distinctive within the ensemble. Likewise, similarities can be identified with other gargoyles in Extremadura (Gata), Burgos, and Oviedo, as well as with examples from Batalha Monastery (Portugal), demonstrating the circulation of models and formal solutions. This group is undoubtedly of great interest, enriching the artistic heritage of Aroche and constituting a valuable testimony to the architectural sculpture associated with its parish church, which is well worth visiting.

 

 

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