Gargoyle Love

I have a fascination with gargoyles and generally any kind of human, animal or creature carved into stone, wood, you name it. This started when we lived in Germany. In Europe there is at least one insanely old church or castle in every city. So there are animal and human faces all over the place. I find it somehow comforting and human to know that people, even in the middle ages, had senses of humor that mirror mine. Because, without a doubt, had someone given me the charge of coming up with creative ways to hide drain spouts you better believe there would have been some humor and mischief involved in getting the job done.

My favorite is the bottom picture. Not to be outdone is the bottom picture of this next set:

I was very excited to read in the WaPo’s Sunday magazine today this article: That’s grotesque! on all the gargoyles and “grotesques” carved all over the National Cathedral! Who knew?! There’s even a Darth Vader grotesque.*

If the temps weren’t up into the fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk-hot range I’d be there tomorrow searching for as many of the 1,242 that I could find.

P.S. All of these pictures were taken in Amboise at the château except for the little black shutter holder (he lives across the street from the château) and the art deco bug who lives on the other side of town.

*I didn’t even know what a “grotesque” was before the WaPo article. And there is a difference between grotesques and gargoyles. The article spells it out.