Freaky Faces and Other Statuary

I love sculpture in general, and unusual faces often catch my eye. Here are some of the notable examples of sculpture - freaky or otherwise - I've enjoyed on this summer's European adventure:
Fountain in front of the Pantheon, Rome
Although we think of them as all white marble, ancient Roman statues were usually painted to be more lifelike. Imagine this cherub attending the god of the Nile river without creepy eyes.
What the eyes probably looked like in ancient statues - Vatican Museum
We learned that many ancient Roman statues (dug up with most of their original paint worn off) were repurposed and displayed as more modern saints by churches through the years. This explains why Saint Peter is wearing a Roman senator's toga in one sculpture. The bust above was simply labeled in the Vatican Museum as "God."
The she-wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, Rome
If I remember correctly, this priest was executed for disagreeing with somebody powerful about some very specific aspect of their shared religion. (Florence)
Leonardo ! At the Uffizi gallery, Florence 
Fountain statues are my favorite. (Near the Spanish Steps in Rome)
David by Michelangelo. Go ahead, make my day. (Florence)
Some statues just inspire us to be silly (Florence)
The gardens at Versailles are full of statuary, including several types of urn creatures.
Drama and triumph on the Alexander III Bridge, Paris
On the wall of a regular home in Orvieto, Italy
At the Vatican in St. Peter's Square. A new sculpture of refugees called "Angels Unawares"
Cant leave out the cheese (kaas) men of Edam, Netherlands
Ornate carved altar in Rothenburg. This type of carved wood sculpture was common across the German -speaking countries 
I assume this was originally the butcher's shop and home, in Rothenburg, Germany
After this trip, I think I'd like my own coat of arms. 
On the Neuschwanstein castle, Germany 
Speaking of coats of arms, this victorious warlord, Bartolomeo Colleoni, was so manly that he claimed more testosterone than most. (Venice)
This is his coat of arms. Those 3 balls are exactly what you think they are.
Imagine being immortalized in a place of honor atop one of the world's most famous cathedrals, only to be caught with a seagull on your head.
San Marco, Venice

Door handles and knockers also fascinate me, but these are the only two I can find at the moment:
Orvieto, Italy
How old this handle must be, to be worn so smooth!
Venice, Italy

We saw so many more sculptures on this trip, not just in museums but on monuments, buildings, ruins, cemeteries, churches...  It's impossible to count them all. I like to think of the artist or craftsperson who created each object, and wonder if they imagined people like us seeing them today. 

Hope you enjoyed this little gallery.

- Christine 

Comments

  1. SueJuly 1, 2022 at 9:10 AM

    Thanks for this post of all the interesting statues and funny faces! I loved it!

    ReplyDelete

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