When last we visited the Sint Maarten Kathedraal waterspuwers (St. Martin Cathedral gargoyles), we had moved into the Pandhof, the cloistered garden area of the cathedral. Sadly, work and weather have prevented me from getting over there as often as I had hoped, but I have finished one side of the garden area. I figured I’d go ahead and share photos of this particular batch. There are some interesting looking fellows and one poor guy who has been battered by the elements.
First up is my big-eared favorite who seems to have a fish head for a bottom, and the fish has wings instead of gills. I still can’t quite wrap my head around this one, but I absolutely love it.
Next is our 1970s porn-stache entrant. That’s a face with a ton of personality! Unfortunately, some of it gets lost in the snow.
Big mouth strikes again with this next fellow showing off his teeth. He’s got cloven hooves and a stylish medieval neck/shoulder warmer. Another impressive pair of ears, as well!
Next we come to a stylish lion with one impressive head of curls! Still, I wouldn’t tease him about the amount of time he spends on his hair. He’ll take a chunk out of you with those fangs!
Finally we come to the poor guy who’s seen better days. I feel bad for him having to hang out with mister hairdo right there next to him. Still, I’m sure our big mouthed friend on the other side of Locks of Lion is happier not to see what he’s bound to turn into some day. There’s a distinct family resemblance.
A Flamingo in Utrecht 
This is so funny, you making the gargoyles into comic book characters almost 🙂
They have so much personality. It’s hard not to make them into characters!
Do like the howling dogs! They are truly wonderful. Was that a fish swallowing a pig? Big Ahhh!
Wonderful.
There are so many possibilities to the end of that one: pig, fish, who knows what!
Keep me posted on the state of mind of the gargoyles adjacent to Mr. Manes. 🙂
I do feel like I might need to make a point of being extra nice to him so he doesn’t feel too bad.
You could use the three of them in a sort of photo comic strip, commenting on one another.
It’s so great to see these close ups. I always wonder if people who walk past these old building ever look up to see all this amazing detail. I think most probably don’t which is a pity.
The sheer amount of detail can be overwhelming. I’m certainly seeing much more of it now that I’m photographing details. It’s wonderful to be able to take it all in, piece by piece.
I like the idea of a very metro lion gargoyle who’s just a little sensitive about his looks 🙂
He’s got some upcoming competition, though. 😉
The medieval stonemasons making them probably had loads of fun with it. Usually they were very restrained in what they could do by Church conservatism I guess, but it seems that when it came to thinking up gargoyles, all limits were off!
Fish head bum one also sports a pair of horses hooves as back legs, did you notice? it gets weirder and weirder 🙂
I know! I gave up listing all the various animals that went into making that one! 🙂
I think it’s a Chimeara, a creature composed of various different animal parts.
Porn-stache, hahaha!
I can’t make up my mind if the first one is the cutest or the ugliest gargoyle I’ve ever seen. His mouth bothers me. I can almost hear him screech. Or bleat. Ok, he’s the ugliest.
You let your imagination run here, Ali. Fun post! 🙂
He does seem like a bleater! I love his big ears, though. They put him firmly in the cute category for me. 😉