| The Gargoyle Book: 572 Examples from Gothic Architecture Contributor(s): Bridaham, Lester Burbank (Author), Cram, Ralph Adams (Introduction by) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0486447545 ISBN-13: 9780486447544 Publisher: Dover Publications OUR PRICE: $20.66 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: August 2006 Annotation: Dispelling the conventional wisdom that French Gothic architectural flourishes were born of despair or gloom, Bridaham reveals the whimsical nature of these creations and the ingenious artisans who made them. An eye-opening look at some of the rare instances of public satire and unbridled artistic freedom in the Middle Ages. 572 illustrations. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Art | Sculpture & Installation - Architecture | Buildings - Religious |
| Dewey: 730.944 |
| LCCN: 2006045449 |
| Series: Dover Architecture |
| Physical Information: 0.43" H x 8.4" W x 10.98" (1.36 lbs) 224 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Amid the soaring grandeur of arches and spires lurks a more down-to-earth architectural flourish: the grinning head of a gargoyle. Singly and clustered, these intriguing creatures form as distinctive an element of Gothic architecture as the flying buttress. Nowhere are they more prominent than along the walls of French cathedrals, and this magnificently illustrated volume prowls the ramparts of those medieval buildings to discover hundreds of authentic gargoyle carvings. According to tradition, the gargoyles were posted as sentries, to ward off malevolent spirits and to remind parishioners of the evil beyond the church doors. Author Lester Burbank Bridaham takes a more optimistic view. Noting the stone guardians' whimsical nature, he discusses the artisanal ingenuity involved in their creation. He also points out how they represented a rare sense of freedom in the Middle Ages, in terms of public satire and unbridled artistic enthusiasm. As this book reveals, the timeless appeal of the gargoyle -- whether symbolic, spiritual, decorative, or fanciful -- continues to captivate the imagination. |