Gargoyles and Sculpting. The Language of Stone
Many of us are attracted to and fascinated by gargoyles. Their monstrous, terrifying, beautiful or ugly figures astound and intrigue us. But there’s more to gargoyles than iconography and functionality. There’s something living that changes over time, something...
Women and their Representation in Gargoyles
One of the most fascinating aspects of art, at least for me as an art historian, is the representation of women. There is sufficient material to write several theses about this enthralling subject, but here you have my brief contribution in recognition...
Superb and Sinister Gargoyles with Bat-like Wings: Dante’s Devil
Among the devil’s most fascinating features are his bat-like wings. The association between the bat and the devil comes from the symbolism attributed to this little animal. I have already discussed this in an earlier post on depictions of fantastical beasts in...
Unsettling and Amazing Creatures. The Archetypal Gargoyles at Mirepoix
In today’s post, we’re going back to France, this time to the mediaeval town of Mirepoix in the region of Occitanie, an enchanting, medieval and magical place for visitors. One of its architectural wonders is the Cathedral of St. Maurice, begun in the late 13th...
