Gargoyles are carved stone creatures known as grotesques. Often made of granite, they serve an important purpose in architecture. Like modern gutter systems you might see on houses or newer buildings, gargoyles prevent rainwater from running down stone walls, eroding the mortar that holds a building together. Just as with bosses and chimeras, gargoyles are said to protect what they guard, such as a church, from any evil or harmful spirits.
As rain water runs down the roofs of Notre-Dame de Paris, it needs to drain off without dripping down the walls and potentially damaging them. By evacuating rain water, the gargoyles protect the cathedral and protect the stone from damage caused by excessive runoff. Technically known as grotesques true gargoyles have waterspouts as mouths , these monstrous creatures glare ominously down on the City of Light.
Flying buttresses are most commonly found on very old churches and cathedrals. An arch that extends out from a tall stone wall is a flying buttress, an architectural feature that was especially popular during the Gothic period. The Gothic style of architecture and art originated in the Middle Ages and was prevalent in Europe between the midth century and the 16th century.
It was heavily ornate and conceptual, with its architecture characterised by high buildings, intricate aesthetics, cavernous spaces and expansive walls. Notre Dame cathedral is famous for architectural elements such as its flying buttresses, which are a form of structural support that became popular in the Gothic period of architecture.
At Notre Dame, those windows are made, famously, of stained glass. Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. A circular window without tracery such as are found in many Italian churches, is referred to as an ocular window or oculus. The Romanesque period 10th — early 13th century is characterized by semi-circular arches , robust appearance, small paired windows, and groin vaults.
Notre-Dame Cathedral consists of a choir and apse, a short transept, and a nave flanked by double aisles and square chapels. Paris Cathedral played an important role in religious and secular life. As the seat of the bishop, Notre Dame was the most significant religious building in the city.
Its size and luxury symbolized the power of the church and the authority of the bishop. By the 19th century, the cathedral was in a state of disrepair. Following a protocol developed for just such a disaster, firefighters knew which works of art to rescue and in which order.
No one was killed, officials said, but a firefighter and two police officers were injured. Investigators were treating the fire an accident, Mr. Heitz said. It lies beneath the public plaza in front of the massive church, which reopened to the public in June. The exhibit is scheduled to run until The cathedral itself remains closed. French President Emmanuel Macron hopes that Notre Dame will be completely restored before , when Paris is due to host the Olympics.
While Paris waits for its iconic landmark to reopen, a smaller chapel could be installed in the forecourt. Devout Catholics and art historians alike breathed a sigh of relief last night, when it was announced that the Crown of Thorns had survived the fire that consumed Notre-Dame Cathedral. Perhaps the Medieval church wanted to convey a terrifying impression of hell and enforce that there was safety and sanctity inside the church.
The devil would be a most inappropriate, and totally unorthodox, image to allow on a church - fantastic gargoyles, would, however have a similar, terrifying psychological effect.
Stone masons had free choice of their gargoyles should depict or look like. It is an interesting fact that there is no two gargoyles which are exactly the same! Medieval Art - Gargoyles The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about the great artists and important historical events which scatter the Medieval History books on the subject of Gargoyles.
The Medieval Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of Gargoyles during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Medieval art provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.
Medieval Art. Gargoyles Facts and interesting information about Medieval Art, specifically Gargoyles, during the Middle Ages Gothic Architecture Gothic Architecture and the Gothic Arch Gothic architecture is characterized by stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, tall spires, the Gothic arch or pointed arch and Gothic Gargoyles.
The different types of English Gothic Architecture styles are divided into three distinct phases: Early English Gothic Style also called Lancet - to Decorated Gothic Style - to Perpendicular Gothic Style - to Definition and Origin of Gargoyles and Grotesques Gargoyles came into gothic architecture in the early 13th century and are defined as "a waterspout, projecting from an upper part of a building or a roof gutter to throw water clear of walls or foundations. Gargoyles might depicted any number of grotesque images including: Ugly human faces Animals Mythical creatures Imaginary creatures Gargoyles combining several animals are also referred to as chimeras The materials used for the earliest Gargoyles were made of wood or even terracotta but early Medieval Gothic gargoyles were made of stone.
Gargoyles Medieval Crusaders Step back into history get Medieval facts and information about art and architecture of the times. Medieval Life and Times Home. Cookies Policy. By Linda Alchin. Privacy Statement.
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