Gargoyles. Art, history, study and observation.
Here is a bit of the passion I feel for these wonderful works of art.
Studying, researching and observing gargoyles is an essential aspect of my daily work. Therefore, with this section I want to share with you some of these moments of study.
The Gargoyles of Limoux
Limoux, the town featured in today's post, is in France, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The town is split in two by the Aude river. Limoux is home to Saint-Martin church, a magnificent monument with some beautiful gargoyles. The town grew around the...
The Dragon and its Symbolism. Dragon Gargoyle
Both in the field work we did for my thesis and on other trips in search of gargoyles, from time to time we've been lucky enough to come across a few images of the dragon gargoyle. Today I invite you to venture with me into the world of one of the most...
The Tomar Gargoyles
On one of the fabulous trips in Portugal, we went to Tomar, a lovely city that’s home to one of the most magnificent and beautiful monument sites in our neighbouring country, the Convent of Christ. Its gargoyles are extraordinary and the architecture is superb....
Symbolism in Images of Gargoyles
“What do they mean, those long-necked gargoyles who howl from the heights?... No time and no people have ever conceived more terrible spectres; they are part wolf, part caterpillar, part bat. They are realistic in a way that makes them more frightening. In the...
Gargoyles in Cork
In tribute to Anglo-Saxon gargoyles, my latest post invites you to discover some of the gargoyles on the cathedral in Cork, one of the prettiest places in the beautiful, welcoming country of Ireland. The magnificent St. Fin Barre's cathedral in Cork that you...
Dogs and their Portrayal in Gargoyles
Gargoyles We're combining art and history once again to link magnificent gargoyle sculptures with the history of the symbolism of the figures they most commonly depict. We've already looked at the symbolism of the lion, which, together with eagles and dogs, are...
Gargoyles in Indonesia
Some temples in Asia have magnificent sets of gargoyles, not just in terms of superb carving but also with a very interesting iconography that tells us about the culture and traditions of the fascinating countries on the Asian continent. Many of these gargoyles...
Expressiveness in Images of Gargoyles
Gargoyles provoke all sorts of reactions and feelings when we look at them, and not just because of the figures they depict, but also because most of them are strikingly expressive. Functionality aside, gargoyles are pure image. Ugliness is one of the...
The Gargoyles in the Loge de Mer at Perpignan
On our trip to Perpignan, in France, we discovered some fabulous gargoyles in the city. On a stroll round Place de la Loge we saw the fantastic Loge de Mer, a medieval building dating from 1397 and extended in 1540, which was used for activities connected with...
The Lion and its Portrayal in Gargoyles
Gargoyles Bestiaries are one of the main sources for understanding the symbolic meaning of animals. They reveal the symbolism of these creatures as well as their positive and negative powers. The portrayals refer to these powers and in many cases they serve to...
Types of Gargoyles
Generally speaking, gargoyles can be classified into three kinds of figures, humans, animals and monsters. It's difficult to establish an exact classification of all kinds of gargoyles, as one figure may belong to one or more types. Fantastical or mythological...
Gargoyles in the History of Art
Looking at them as a passer-by, I've always been really attracted to gargoyles. This is undoubtedly the main reason why I chose to write a PhD thesis on them. However, as an art historian, I'm passionate about art in general, especially medieval art. Historians...
Gargoyles
We're embarking on a journey through the prodigious world of gargoyles, those fascinating creatures who've been gazing down at us from the tops of buildings for centuries. However, in this first post, we'll be starting from the beginning. And that means...
