Today’s journey takes us to the beautiful capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain), the city that’s home to the cathedral of María Inmaculada, a delight for all gargoyle lovers.
This visit is going to take more than one post because, although at first I was intending to simply show you a significant repertoire, I don’t think you can miss out on this host of fascinating beings and creatures surrounding the building.
The cathedral was built in the Neo-Gothic style (1907-1969) and is known as “Catedral Nueva” (new cathedral) to distinguish it from the Gothic cathedral of Santa María (“Catedral Vieja” or old cathedral).
The gargoyles on the north and south sides of the building were sculpted by Aurelio Rivas between 1964 and 1965. The stone cutting work is brilliant and there is a huge variety of highly original types.
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- Aurelio Rivas carving the water bearer. Photography: J. R. Martínez de Muguía
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- Plaster models. Photography: J. R. Martínez de Muguía
All of them are gargoyles of impressive formal and thematic richness and beauty. Each one of them has a story, a project designed for the future, and meticulous research work behind it. Here we are simply going to show you the images for the enjoyment of gargoyle lovers. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the iconography of many of them is related to Miguel Apraiz’s life experience during the civil war. Miguel Apraiz was the lead architect of the works and the designer of the gargoyles. Likewise, we see all kinds of monsters, demons, fantastical beings, and even a wonderful trumpeting angel.
The grotesques or chimeras also form an extraordinary set, both in terms of form and theme.
So let’s enjoy this wonderful collection of gargoyles and grotesques.
Gargoyles
Grotesques
Doctor of Art History and researcher specializing in the study of gargoyles.
I am Dolores Herrero Ferrio, and my thesis, “An Approach to the Study of Gargoyles of Gothic Cathedrals in Castilla and León”, is dedicated to the study of these fascinating figures.
If you like gargoyles and art history, you will also enjoy my book, “The Gargoyle and Its Iconography,” a book I have written with great care for those interested in the world of gargoyles.
I have created my own Encyclopedia of Gargoyles, a Gargopedia to share with you, where you will discover all the secrets and wonders of these enigmatic sculptures.
I hope you enjoy this Gargopedia as much as I have enjoyed creating it, and remember that each gargoyle has a story to tell, and here you will discover them all.
