Grotesque (architecture)  

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 +[[Image:Stryge by Meryon.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''[[Stryge]]'' ([[1853]]) is a print by [[French etcher]] [[Charles Méryon]] depicting one of the [[Chimera (architecture)|chimera]] of the ''[[Galerie des chimères]]'' of the [[Notre Dame de Paris]] cathedral.]]
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-:"[grotesque figures] in the frescoes and [[bas-relief]]s which adorned the cathedrals and even village churches of the 12th and 13th centuries" --''[[Rabelais and His World]]'' (tr. Hélène Iswolsky) 
-Used in describing an architectural feature, '''chimera''' means a fantastic, mythical or grotesque figure used for decorative purposes. Chimera are often described as [[gargoyle]]s. Used correctly, the term gargoyle refers to mostly eerie figures carved specifically as terminations to spouts which convey water away from the sides of buildings.+In architecture '''chimera''' is an [[architectural element]] which takes the form of a fantastic, mythical or [[Grotesque#In_architecture|grotesque]] figure used for decorative purposes. Chimerae are often described as [[gargoyle]]s. Used correctly, the term gargoyle refers to mostly eerie figures carved specifically as terminations to [[spout]]s which convey water away from the sides of buildings. In the Middle Ages, the term ''babewyn'' was used to refer to both gargoyles and chimerae. This word is derived from the [[Italian language|Italian]] word ''babuino,'' which means "[[baboon]]."
-Also used in describing hybrid systems of merged systems or parts.+Bakhtin mentions them in ''[[Rabelais and His World]]'' in connection to his own concept of the [[grotesque body]]:
-From Index Architecture: + 
-"The chimerical system produces cross-categorical couplings in which the initial systems are inextricably merged, that is, transformed into a system or systems with entirely new identities. Employing a 'chimerical mode,' the studio looked at ways of coupling categorically different systems by identifying and exploiting compatibilities and affinities between them." - Sulan Kolatan "Chimera 3: Mongrel Structures," Advanced Studio V, Fall 1997.+<blockquote>
 +"[grotesque figures] in the frescoes and [[bas-relief]]s which adorned the cathedrals and even village churches of the 12th and 13th centuries" (tr. Hélène Iswolsky)
 +</blockquote>
 + 
 +Bakhtin then refers to examples in the book ''[[Religious Art in France of the Thirteenth Century]]'' of [[Émile Mâle]].
 + 
 +:"One may well ask the meaning of these creatures and of the stupendous heads or ominous shrouded birds that project from the facade of [[Notre Dame at Reims]]. As we have seen, the interpretation of Madame [[Felicie d'Ayzac]] does not hold good, for the abnormal fauna of the cathedrals finds its explanation in no symbolic scheme, and here the [[Bestiaries]] do not help us. The fact is that conceptions of this kind are of essentially popular origin. The gargoyles like churchyard vampires, or the dragons subdued by ancient bishops, came from the depths of the people's consciousness, and had grown out of their ancient fireside tales. The powerful and sombre side of mediaeval genius found expression in these memories of their forefathers, echoes of a vanished world."[http://books.google.be/books?id=NxS1tMLzLFIC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=%22One+may+well+ask+the+meaning+of+these%22&source=bl&ots=gimhuSmhi6&sig=yJguQXIiZg7AbS0ZJt5nICUxM6k&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fjVwUr-7NKOI4gTYp4DQDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22One%20may%20well%20ask%20the%20meaning%20of%20these%22&f=false] (tr. Dora Nussey)
==See also== ==See also==
 +*[[Chimera (disambiguation)]] for other uses of the term
*[[Chimera (mythology)]] *[[Chimera (mythology)]]
*[[Gargoyle]] *[[Gargoyle]]
- +*[[House with Chimaeras]]
{{GFDL}} {{GFDL}}

Revision as of 06:08, 3 July 2014

Stryge (1853) is a print by French etcher Charles Méryon depicting one of the chimera of the Galerie des chimères of the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.
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Stryge (1853) is a print by French etcher Charles Méryon depicting one of the chimera of the Galerie des chimères of the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.

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In architecture chimera is an architectural element which takes the form of a fantastic, mythical or grotesque figure used for decorative purposes. Chimerae are often described as gargoyles. Used correctly, the term gargoyle refers to mostly eerie figures carved specifically as terminations to spouts which convey water away from the sides of buildings. In the Middle Ages, the term babewyn was used to refer to both gargoyles and chimerae. This word is derived from the Italian word babuino, which means "baboon."

Bakhtin mentions them in Rabelais and His World in connection to his own concept of the grotesque body:

"[grotesque figures] in the frescoes and bas-reliefs which adorned the cathedrals and even village churches of the 12th and 13th centuries" (tr. Hélène Iswolsky)

Bakhtin then refers to examples in the book Religious Art in France of the Thirteenth Century of Émile Mâle.

"One may well ask the meaning of these creatures and of the stupendous heads or ominous shrouded birds that project from the facade of Notre Dame at Reims. As we have seen, the interpretation of Madame Felicie d'Ayzac does not hold good, for the abnormal fauna of the cathedrals finds its explanation in no symbolic scheme, and here the Bestiaries do not help us. The fact is that conceptions of this kind are of essentially popular origin. The gargoyles like churchyard vampires, or the dragons subdued by ancient bishops, came from the depths of the people's consciousness, and had grown out of their ancient fireside tales. The powerful and sombre side of mediaeval genius found expression in these memories of their forefathers, echoes of a vanished world."[1] (tr. Dora Nussey)

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