The grotesque in church art . are like the imposing monument to a doctor inSouthwark Cathedral, on which, by the way, the epitaphis mainly devoted to laudation of his pills. Yet, thoughthe grotesque is not entirely wanting in even these monu-ments, it is chiefly through errors of taste. The worst ofthem are more pathetic than anything else. The grotesqueproper implies a proportion of levity, whereas the earnest-ness evinced by these effigies are more in keeping withthe solemnity of the churchs purpose than the infinitely PREFACE. vn more artistic and unobtrusive ornament of the othe
The grotesque in church art . are like the imposing monument to a doctor inSouthwark Cathedral, on which, by the way, the epitaphis mainly devoted to laudation of his pills. Yet, thoughthe grotesque is not entirely wanting in even these monu-ments, it is chiefly through errors of taste. The worst ofthem are more pathetic than anything else. The grotesqueproper implies a proportion of levity, whereas the earnest-ness evinced by these effigies are more in keeping withthe solemnity of the churchs purpose than the infinitely PREFACE. vn more artistic and unobtrusive ornament of the other class of grotesque is the modern imitation ofmediaeval carving, with original design. Luckily, it issomewhat rare to find the spirit of the old sculptors animatinga modern chisel. One of the best series of modern antiquesof this kind is a set of gargoyles at St. Nicholass, Abingdon,executed about 1881, of which I think it worth while to appenda warning sample. These two classes are left out of account in the —^==KS$8^f§ MDUEKN GAKGOVLK, AUINGDON, 1081. Contents. PAGE Preface ... v Introduction * i Definitions of the - ..... ^ The Carvers .. g The Artistic Qualities of Church Grotesques - 19 Gothic Ornament not Didactic 24 Ingrained Paganism - ... - 27 Mythic Origin - ........ 34 Hells Mouth 60 Satanic Representations - 64 The Devil and the Vices - - 78 Ale and the Alewife - - 99 Satires without Satan - - .... io6 Scriptural Illustrations - - - - - 112 Masks and Faces - - - 121 The Domestic and Popular - - - 134 The Pig and other Animal Musicians - - - 152 Compound Forms - ........ l^y Nondescripts --------- 169 Rebuses - 173 Trinities - - 175 The Fox in Church Art -------- 184 Situations of Grotesque Ornament in Church Art - 213 Index - 219
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjec, booksubjectchristianartandsymbolism
