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Gargoyles and Grotesques of Chateau de Pierrefonds, France

looking into the open mouth of a crocodile gargoyle
looking into the open mouth of a crocodile gargoyle
Gargoyle on the Chateau de Pierrefonds in Oise, Picardy, France. Photo by Tango7174 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Most of the time, gargoyles perform their function as gutters by sticking out from the side of a building and diverting water horizontally. This gargoyle on the 12th/19th-century Chateau de Pierrefonds in France has a different approach. He sends water downward as his long body slithers down the castle wall. I’m not sure if he is an alligator, crocodile, enormous lizard, or some sort of dragon-like creature, but his wide-open mouth full of sharp teeth is quite menacing.

You can read about the medieval/modern Chateau de Pierrefonds here.

stone crocodile gargoyle
Photo by Calips via Wikimedia Commons (CC By-SA 1.0).

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The mission of A Scholarly Skater Art History is to make historical art and architecture accessible to everyone.
I’m Alexandra, an art historian who believes that looking at art can enrich everyone’s life. Welcome to my website!
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Art history is an inherently subjective field, and my perspective isn’t the only one. I encourage all my readers to seek out differing opinions and read multiple sources to get a broader and more complete view of this complex and fascinating field of study. Read my disclaimers for more information.

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