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Robert Falconer's Photo Galleries » Grotesques and Gargoyles

(27 objects, created 8/30/2010)

Album: This is a private album that is not visible to anonymous users Grotesques and Gargoyles

Summary: Grotesques and gargoyles are stone carvings used to ward off evil spirits. The difference between a grotesque and a gargoyle is that gargoyles are functional (rain spout), while grotesques are purely decorational. These artworks are not always horrific, and more modern ones may be whimsical or even humorous. they are sometimes used to honor people as well. The following images were taken during my travels, mainly during my trip to the UK in 1994.

Date:

One of my favorite images, this comes from Oxford, England. It is a wonderful mixture of scary and humorous

One of my favori...

Detailed scrollwork

Detailed scrollw...

This image reminds me of a biblical man for some reason

This image remin...

A cherubic face, or maybe a young girl

A cherubic face,...

A true gargoyle from Oxford, England

A true gargoyle ...

Another gargoyle using the mouth to funnel water away from the building

Another gargoyle...

The strange tilt of the head makes this one seems slighly strange

The strange tilt...

It looks like a wolf or some kind of hellbound dog.

It looks like a ...

A church official

A church officia...

Intricate carved snakes make up the hair on this piece

Intricate carved...

A gargoyle monkey peering over the edge

A gargoyle monke...

And this monkey is doing something else

And this monkey ...

Blessings to you as you enter the city of Oxford, England

Blessings to you...

Maybe it's the height that is making this person look so worried

Maybe it's the h...

Every building needs a good dragon to protect it

Every building n...

I'd be surprised too if that beast were whispering in my ear

I'd be surprised...

Whatever he's holding, I think it's precious

Whatever he's ho...

Even the Prince of Wales can be on a building

Even the Prince ...

A true demon to scare off the other demons

A true demon to ...

An angel to bless the building

An angel to bles...

I'm Scottish, so I have to admire the thistle

I'm Scottish, so...

If that were my baby, I'd be pretty scared

If that were my ...

A nun hanging out and supporting the ledge

A nun hanging ou...

A winged ram helps keep the rain off of this building

A winged ram hel...

A giant snake helps too

A giant snake he...

If this is a self-portrait of the stone carver, I don't think I'd want to mess with him

If this is a sel...

A human face, but wings too

A human face, bu...