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A fearless knight
slays the dreaded dragon foe. Originating from medieval folklore, the heroic
knight is blessed with a halo suggesting a degree of divine intervention. This
spiky creature, showing claws and pointy teeth, appears to have met its match.
Image c.1900. Deutscher Schulverein,
Carte 800, Josef Eberle, Vien.
A draconopede as depicted in the Hortus Sanitatis of 1491, Animalia XLIX. Image
c.1900. British Museum of Natural
History. Printed by Waterlow & Sons Limited, Series H39.
Carved in limestone, this mother bird-creature perches lovingly above her
nested young. Accurate images of exotic birds from faraway lands were not
available to sculptors of the twelfth century, so imagination had to suffice.
Chicago’s sculptors mimicked those of Europe and adopted forms from dreams and
mythology. Image c.1900. Collection
Notre-Dame, 4 series, 192 cartes, Cliches ND. Edition en noir et en bistre, E.
Brian, 23, r. d’Arcole, Paris.
A less stylized bird screeches over the city of Paris. Image c.1900. Collection Notre-Dame, 4 series, 192 cartes,
Cliches ND. Edition en noir et en bistre, E. Brian, 23, r. d’Arcole, Paris.
This bony beast atop Notre Dame Cathedral is prepared for a meal and is ready
to avail itself upon any suspecting animal or
man. Medieval folk saw this devil figure as a real threat to their very
wellbeing; sanctuary was only found within the confines of the church below.
Image c.1900. Collection Notre-Dame, 4
series, 192 cartes, Cliches ND. Edition en noir et en bistre, E. Brian, 23, r.
d’Arcole, Paris.
This architectural drawing of the partial façade of a Gothic church displays
elegant proportioning complete with all the artistic trappings of that style.
Most interesting are the figures to be included: What appears to be a wivern is
placed in the spandrel between two arches, while little beasties scurry along
the arches. Social and cultural traditions, religious expectations, and
“architectural correctness” demand such carved inclusions despite their
irrationality. These imagined creatures are potent symbols of stylistic
continuity and medieval-based religious doctrine. Image: c.1890. “Gothic Arcade,” A Textbook on Architectural Drawing, Scranton, Pennsylvania:
International Textbook Company, 1897.
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A young maiden keeps
this forest-residing dragon at bay with a small crucifix. Despite having her
torso and legs bound to a tree, she does seem to have a modicum of success, if
only for a while. A castle looms in the background, but, alas, there is no
knight in sight. Image c.1890.
This hapless victim
was waylaid by a harpy, a common fear among some European folk during the
twelfth century. Image c.1900. Hortus
Sanitatis of 1491, Aves LXI. British Museum of Natural History. Printed by
Waterlow & Sons Limited, Series H37.
This fearsome bird has captured a helpless little soon-to-be morsel while it
surveys Paris from its perch atop Notre Dame Cathedral. Image c.1900. Anciens Etab. Neurdein et cie. – Imp. Crete,
Succ. Corbeil-Paris. 52, Av. De Breteuil. – Paris.
A frightful looking beast devours its prey while another creature scouts for a
meal. These were carved from limestone sometime during the mid-thirteenth
century and are located atop Notre Dame Cathedral. Image c.1900. Anciens Etab. Neurdein et cie. – Imp. Crete,
Succ. Corbeil-Paris. 52, Av. De Breteuil. – Paris.
This is no rooster announcing the crack of dawn. The feathered creatures poised
upon the setbacks of Notre Dame Cathedral were not nice or cuddly. These were
thought to originate from the nether regions, the products of magic and the
devil. Image c.1900. Collection
Notre-Dame, 4 series, 192 cartes, Cliches ND. Edition en noir et en bistre, E.
Brian, 23, r. d’Arcole, Paris.
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