The Gargoyles of the Monastery of Alcobaça: Stone Art in Portugal

 

In this post we are going to show you one of the most amazing sets of gargoyles that we have found in our travels around Portugal.

We are talking about the gargoyles of the superb and beautiful Alcobaça Monastery, a jewel of Portuguese heritage.

 

 

 

This monastery is one of the most impressive examples of Cistercian architecture. It was founded in 1153 by King Afonso Henriques to fulfil a promise he had made to Saint Bernard for the victory in the fight against the Moors, in 1147, for the reconquest of Santarém.

After its construction, in 1178, the king donated both the monastery and several farmlands to the Cistercian monks. The monks settled there around 1223.

Its church is the first and largest Gothic church built in Portugal. This imposing work was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 

The gargoyles of Alcobaça: Iconography and function

The gargoyles we are going to see next are in the Cloister of Silence. This cloister was built between 1308 and 1311, and is a true architectural marvel.

 

 

The amazing thing about these gargoyles, apart from the variety of themes, is the sculptural carving, with shapes and styles that reveal the mastery and imagination of the sculptors.

We will now look at them by typology in order to get the most complete and orderly overview possible of the whole group. As we have already seen in the entry dedicated to typologies, it is difficult to make an exact classification, as some gargoyles may belong to more than one typology. However, as always, we will include each gargoyle in the typology that comes closest, considering the characteristics, features and elements of each one.

The symbolism of animals and other creatures is very interesting; however, in order not to repeat it in this entry, we will mark the corresponding word with the link that will take you to the blog entries where the meaning of the figures is explained.

On the other hand, we fortunately have many photographs of the gargoyles before cleaning and restoration, so we will also show you the before and after of some of them. The old ones were photographed in 2012.

Finally, we should highlight some of the corbels on which the gargoyles rest, with all kinds of decorations: geometric, with heads or vegetal.

 

 Animal monster

We begin with the typology of the animal monster, a hybrid made up of various animal parts. This typology that always gives rise to multiple creations and combinations, with fantastic and highly original figures. However, the most common figure in gargoyles is the winged quadruped, generally a dog or lion, although in Alcobaça we also see pig-like heads.

 

 

 

In this typology, we are going to see two characteristics of its own. The first is that the vast majority do not have front legs, a detail that appears in other gargoyles in Portugal, such as in Guarda Cathedral.

 

 

The second characteristic is the large necklaces that the monsters wear around their necks, necklaces of various shapes: balled, flared, etc. On one of the monsters, you will also see a conch or a scallop on its head.

 

 

 

Real animal

There is a wide variety of animals, some of them common in gargoyles and others surprising. Several of them are noted for a very peculiar characteristic: a type of plumage or fur that is somewhat exaggerated or showy, no doubt to the sculptor’s taste, and looking more like harlequin costumes. You will also see a lack of forelegs and a variety of necklaces.

We begin with the figures of two pigs; one of them wears a necklace around its neck. We also see an animal with bovine horns (cow or bull).

 

 

 

 

There is another gargoyle with these characteristics, although it is impossible to tell which animal it is because it is broken. Generally, if the gargoyles are not excessively deteriorated, we like to include them as historical evidence of their existence.

 

 

Next, we are going to see several eel-like fish with curled tails. The fish is a very rare animal among gargoyles, although in Portugal we can see them in the Monastery of Batalha, for example.

 

 

There are also dog figures. The dog is one of the animals most commonly represented in gargoyles. They have different shapes, some with the characteristics mentioned above, and sometimes they show their genitals.

 

 

A lion, the most common animal depicted on the gargoyles, is in a rampant position and holding balls with its paws.

 

 

 

There are also two monkeys or apes with the characteristics mentioned above.

 

 

Finally, we shall show you three very singular and unusual animals. The first has an elongated snout and long fur, resembling a badger. It is a rare gargoyle, as it has no front legs, but brings its left hind leg to its head; truly unusual and very interesting. The second is a rhinoceros, a totally extravagant gargoyle, but of great sculptural beauty. In the last one, although it could be a dog, the head resembles more that of a cat, an animal very rarely represented in gargoyles.

 

 

 

 

Anthropomorphic

We move on to the typology of the anthropomorph. One of them has the hind legs of a quadruped, a dog’s head, genitals, fur, and human breasts and teeth. Another one has an apparently animal body, a monstrous-looking head, with oversized and elongated eyebrows that look like horns, spirals on the nose, and human hands that make the “flipping-off” gesture, that is, forming a fist with the thumb between the index and middle finger, a gesture that in sign language is the letter T and that was used against the evil eye or as an obscene insult. Finally, we have one with a human head (it looks like a child’s) and wings. It is showing its anus, in a contorted position. There are several theories about the meaning of this posture: to keep the devil away from the church, blasphemy, insult, comicality; it is an amazing and unique gargoyle.

 

 

 

 

Demon

The last typology is a devil with membranous wings, claws, a possible head veil and pupils.

 

 

Corbels

 

The gargoyles of the main façade: Style and function at the monastery’s entrance

The main façade (west) was renovated with Baroque elements between 1702 and 1725. It has four gargoyles in a totally different style from those in the cloister. Two of them are lions, also rampant and with balls on their paws, a mane with large tufts and showing their genitals.

 

 

There are also two apes with a somewhat anthropomorphic appearance (posture, breasts). These are expressive gargoyles with magnificent carving in some details (fur, eyes with pupils).

 

 

We have always said that the gargoyle “is alive” due to the transformation it undergoes over time as it is exposed to the elements, suffering all kinds of damage and deterioration due to biological, chemical, climatic or human causes. We see them change over the years and centuries. That’s why we love to preserve old photographs. In this case, although we understand that the gargoyle must be preserved and restored and must therefore be cleaned, the moss that covered them also added a magical and marvellous touch that, together with their already original and imaginative iconography, gave the overall set more fantasy and reverie. If you travel to Portugal and have the chance to visit Alcobaça, don’t miss this monastery and its gargoyles. It is, as we said at the beginning, a jewel of Portuguese heritage, and not only of Portugal, but of the whole of Europe and the world.