Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings

Holy Terrors is a digital art book about gargoyles on medieval buildings in western Europe. This PDF edition is available as an instant download after purchase.

Written by Janetta Rebold Benton, the book considers gargoyles as both architectural necessities and imaginative stone sculptures. It combines clear discussion with color photographs of human, animal, and grotesque forms.

The digital format is suited to readers exploring medieval sculpture, architecture, and European art through a focused illustrated study.

Book Overview

Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings examines gargoyles positioned on churches, cathedrals, houses, and town halls throughout western Europe. Benton explains that a true gargoyle is a waterspout designed to carry rainwater away from a building’s walls.

The introduction addresses established facts and conjectures about gargoyle history, construction, purposes, and mysterious meanings. Three following chapters examine gargoyles carved as people, real animals, and fantastic or grotesque creatures.

The book concludes with notes, a guide to gargoyle sites to visit, suggestions for further reading, acknowledgments, a selected bibliography, and an index.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• An introduction to the facts and conjectures surrounding medieval gargoyles.
• An explanation of gargoyles as functional architectural waterspouts.
• Human gargoyles carved in stone.
• Animal gargoyles and representations of real animals.
• Grotesque gargoyles in fantastic forms.
• Color photographs showing the variety of these sculptures.
• A guide to gargoyle sites throughout western Europe.

Why This Book Matters

Holy Terrors connects practical medieval architecture with the imaginative possibilities of carved stone. It shows how waterspouts became distinctive visual features that shaped the silhouettes of medieval buildings.

For readers of medieval art and architectural history, the book offers a structured look at human, animal, and grotesque gargoyles. Its site guide, bibliography, and index support further reading and location-based study.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital PDF download, so no physical copy will be shipped. Access is available after purchase.

The file works with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps that support PDF files. Device features may vary by application.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase, with the PDF provided as an instant digital download.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This listing is for a digital download and does not include physical shipping.

Which devices support the file?
The PDF can be opened with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps.

Explore Holy Terrors: Gargoyles on Medieval Buildings as a digital reference for medieval gargoyles, sculpture, and architecture.

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