Tuesday 11 August 2015

Who Are You?

 Coventry Cathedral Ruins


Located at East Entrance

Why does taking a simple photograph end up being a project for me?
I spotted this head with a broken nose and tried to find out 'who' it was.  No luck.
Then, I wanted to refer to it as a 'Gargoyle' 
only to read that gargoyles includes a 'water spout'.
Through the magic of the internet I found a site HERE that explains
that if carved stone like this doesn't act as a water spout,
it is a 'Grotesque'.*
But, of course, you knew that - I didn't :). 

All around Coventry Cathedral there a number of gargoyles
and grotesques.  I will have fun photographing more.

*Addition to post 12th August, 2015:
The History Anorak informs me
that this figure is a 'corbel'.  

12 comments:

Jane and Chris said...

I find all gargoyles grotesque!
Jane x

William Kendall said...

I know the difference technically, but I always refer to a particularly hideous stonework sculpture as a gargoyle.

RedPat said...

I didn't know about the different names! Thanks!

hamilton said...

I knew the difference, but I'm still tempted to call these gargoyles as well.

Stephanie said...

Thanks for clarifying the difference between gargoyles and grotesques.

Fun60 said...

I did know that but of course wouldn't have remembered the word if you had asked. I am forever looking up information that I have previously digested but cannot recall!

Sharon said...

I kind of hate to think of that guy as grotesque.

LOLfromPasa said...

To The History Anorak: Definitely no spanner - I was really hoping you would add a comment.

Thank you for your kind offering that this in fact might be a 'corbel' rather than a 'grotesque'. I have followed the link you offer (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbel) which I find most interesting. Thanks again for commenting!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Loooove this post Lauren, discoveries like this I find fascinating and when I get home to my proper computer I'm going to Google both grotesque and corbel. Can't wait to see what you show us next!
P.s. so happy the people you speak to enjoyed Perth, it is a pretty city.

cieldequimper said...

I'm not good enough at medieval architectural history but I love the face.

Petrea Burchard said...

I love your photo.

Jack said...

I should probably lie and say that I knew, but if I ever did, that knowledge is deeply buried inside this overly full brain of mine. A "grotesque." Trinity College in Hartford has some carvings like this but I never even wondered what to call them.