Gothic and Romanesque, of Gargoyles and Grotesques

 

Grotesques at south belltower - Notre Dame de Paris

Gothic and Romanesque, of Gargoyles and Grotesques

Musings on religious symbols and ornamentation

Gregory E. Larson - Architect Emeritus

Note: All photos were taken by the author during various trips to France. Photos of Notre Dame de Paris were taken in 2007, years before the fire of 2019.

 

Gargoyles and Grotesques along north wall of Notre Dame de Paris

Angelic Statue
Notre Dame de Paris

The eyes, beaks, pointy teeth, wings and claws were in full view when I first began to look at the churches and cathedrals in France. Strange animals and birds adorned the edges of the façades, perched to ward off the evil spirits. Statues not of this world, such as flying monkeys, dogs with horns, and gremlin-like creatures appear to be some sort of security detail assigned to help save us from the dark side while we enter the massive houses of worship. Some of the symbols are functional and some are decorative. Gargoyles funnel the collected rainwater from the roofs, then spout the flow out of the devilish heads, thrusting the water into the air, high above the walkways below. Grotesques are decorative statues of the strange creatures, strategically placed at corners and edges of the stone walls. They appear as guardians of the cathedral edifices, standing a sentinel watch for the ages.

There are also the carved angels and saints to guide the viewer upward along the rapturous path toward the heavens. I expected to see them, but was surprised at the design and number of the grotesque creatures.

Romanesque church - Notre Dame du Port, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Prison shackles attached to exterior
Notre Dame d'Orcival

Romanesque church construction was generally from the 8^th to the 11^th century. The architecture used simple Roman structural principles including barrel vaults and clay-tile roofs perched on walls with Byzantine details. Windows through the thick stone walls are smaller, thus the interior of the churches have less light than the Gothic Cathedrals. Some Romanesque churches include carvings which adorn the columns and walls, describing important local stories, and some display animals and local people of note. The weird creatures didn’t start to show up until the 12^th century when Gothic churches were being constructed in France.

While visiting a Romanesque church in Orcival, France (Notre Dame d’Orcival) I noticed there were prison shackles attached to the exterior of the church, which is now a pilgrimage of those who pray to St. Mary for those imprisoned in mind and spirit as well as physical incarceration. The story goes that the town was under siege during the hundred-years-war so the townspeople prayed to St. Mary and their supplications were answered when French troops drove out the British. There is a phrase used in the Catholic church: Notre Dame des fers (Our Lady of irons) for those who offer up prayers of the imprisoned.

Interior - Notre Dame de l'Assomption
Clermont-Ferrand, France

Exterior - Notre Dame de l'Assomption
Clermont-Ferrand, France

Gothic church construction flourished from the 12^th century to the 15^th century. The structural details, including the flying buttresses are more refined to carry the weight of the stone and allow for greater expanses of windows. Of the cathedrals that remain today, most have been renovated and reconstructed through the centuries, but they still remain a testament to a high level of design and craftsmanship. The stone cutters and masons, along with the stone carvers took their craft to a high-level art form for the masses to view. One has to look upward a few hundred feet to see some of the details on the towers.

As a retired architect, these old structures are a feast for the eyes. I can never spend enough time looking at the carvings, details, and design in general. On the last trip to France, I viewed and toured Notre Dame de l’Assomption, a Gothic cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand. It is constructed of a native lava stone, which is dark grey. On cloudy and rainy days the stone is dark, which is visually striking. It could pass for a Darth Vadar church in appearance. When I first walked up to the side of the cathedral, I photographed the north wall and the backsides of the twin towers. There was a tree on the corner of the side street and I included a portion of it in the photo. When I returned home, I enjoyed looking at the details, as well as the dramatic angles created from the view upward. I decided to do a major watercolor, and got lost in the details. Here is the painting below:

Notre Dame de l'Assomption
2024 original watercolor by
Gregory E. Larson