Little sculptures

[mspath]

Camino Frances
towards Viana

photo taken October 28, 2013



This small figure of the Virgin was glimpsed in "the wilderness" when I walked cross country off path towards Viana.

 

[David Tallan]

These little guys are in Valencia, where I am now, which I know is on a couple of Caminos.

 

[alansykes]

San Juan de Duero, Soria.
Camino Castellano-Aragonés.
October 20, 2021.



I love the look of horror on the face of the centaur - he’s presumably just fired his last arrow at the monster bearing gleefully down on him.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Leon
Parador San Marcos
cloister garden

photo taken March 7, 2007



These two saints guard the cloister garden within the Parador.

When clad in my winter pilgrim garb I dared enter the Parador to ask if the famous Renaissance cloister garden could be visited the elegant maitre de answered that I might faire le tour but must NOT enter it!

Thus while I slowly walked the periphery arcade those saints and he intently watched every footstep!! This photo is proof of my peripatetic quest!

 

[caminka]

@mspath posted one that was perhaps explicit. This one is even more explicitly crude, but I did like it. Not a capital but a water spout on a church in Azurara, Portugal on the Coastal Route before Vila do Conde. Consider yourselves warned.

View attachment 165233

Those are wonderful. There are actually several of them on Hospital de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago and they pee/poo on you if it rains. These are baroque additions to medieval hospice/hospital.

 

[David Tallan]

Also from Valencia, this one is on La Llotja de la Seda, the medieval Gothic mercantile exchange:

 

[KariannNor]

I don't know if this fits into the category. Very surprising placed in a tree in the forest after Carbajal de la Legua.

 

[mspath]

Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral interior
Alpha-Omega disc

photo taken December 9, 2012



Amongst the multitude of splendor within the cathedral is this handsome disc displaying a four arm cross set with symbols of the sun/moon in the upper quadrants and alpha/omega in the lower quadrants.

 

[David Tallan]

Also from Valencia, Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana.

 

[alansykes]

Sol Invictus in the visigothic chapel (c680AD) of Santa María de Lara, Quintanilla de las Viñas. Camino de San Olav.
31 October 2018.



The barely Christianised Sol is paired with a (to my eye) entirely pagan Selene/Isis/Luna. 800 years after they were created they would have induced a fit of the vapours in any sharp-eyed Inquisitor.

 

[mspath]

Cape Finisterre

photo taken December 9, 2011



If only this message might be true now and forevermore.

 

[mspath]

Cape Finisterre
last boot

photo taken March 8, 2008



By the sculpted metal boot the sea was the color of pewter and the clouds above dove gray.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Logroño
Parque de La Grajera

photo taken October 29, 2012



After crossing the magnificent Parque de La Grajera this handsome metal shell marks the continuation of the CF path west towards Navarrete

 

[dick bird]

Part of the ambulatory in the cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Puente La Reina - Gares

photo taken October 15, 2010



The vivid yellow arrow on this small central bollard leads your eye straight across the bridge.

 

[David Tallan]

From the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo on the Camino de Levante:

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
east of Nájera near Aleson
guardaviñas

photo taken February 18, 2007



This small circular stone shelter for la Rioja vintners is a guardaviñas. To form the conical roof stones would have been laid flat in concentric circles diminishing in size.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Ponferrada
markers

photo taken November 20, 2011



These handsome small markers are attached to the south side of the Iglesia de San Andrés at the busy crossing of the Avenida el Castillo and Calle el Temple.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Portos

photo taken December 4, 2013



Set within a frosty garden this insectile sculpture marks the entrance of the A Paso de Forimiga albergue located on the CF in Portos east of Palas de Rei.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Burgos cathedral
Matamoros

photos taken February 24, 2007



From afar through a camera lens the Matamoros or Moor Slayer can be seen in isolation but viewed in situ the vast scene



covers one wall of the Capilla de San Juan Bautista y Santiago visited as part of the cathedral museum.

 

[David Tallan]

In Ávila, on the Camino de Levant.

 

[alansykes]

Reproduction of the celtiberian leona de Baena, c600BC. Baena, Camino Mozárabe.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
O Cebreiro
Santa Maria a Real

photos taken November 28, 2014



The magnificent chalice in the church was a gift from royalty commemorating a medieval miracle of faith when a parishioner experienced the transformation of wine and bread.



The sculpted shape of the chalice is repeated in this contemporary embroidered panel hanging in a side chapel.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

This totally does not belong here but I wanted @mspath to wake up to some more color that her post above inspired. Titled "Royal Heart" this is my picture of a Sacred Heart inspired jewelry sculpture designed by Dalí on display at an annex at his museum in Figueres. A motor causes the heart to beat. Details follow.

The Royal Heart | Collection | Fundació Gala - Salvador Dalí

Technique: 18 karat yellow gold; Natural rubies (corundum), mixed cut (round and oval), of 3.0 to 5.0 mm, approximately; Small stones on the crown; Natural rubies (corundum) (8); Natural sapphires (corundum) (4); Natural emeralds (beryl) (4); Aquamarines (beryl) (4); Peridots (2); Hessonite...

www.salvador-dali.org

 

[David Tallan]

Also in Ávila on the Levante:

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Burgos
Cathedral

photo taken November 7, 2014



Back panel of a polished wooden choir stall.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The other day some robot at Google went through my photos and selected a bunch of small sculptures that it considered should belong together. There was one from New Zealand and a couple from the Rock of Cashel in Ireland but the bulk were from Spain. At the end it allowed me to save them in a collage. Here it is.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Columbrianos
Iglesia de San Esteban
marker

photo taken November 21, 2011



At the Iglesia de San Esteban de Columbrianos located on the CF north of central Ponferrada this sculpted ceramic marker pointed the way.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Salceda

photo taken March 20, 2009



This poignant memorial replicates/preserves(?) in bronze the shoes/boots(?) of a Swiss pilgrim, Guillermo Watts, aged 69 who died just one day before arriving at Santiago de Compostela

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

My collage the other day had part of this photo in it. Most of the columns in the cloister in San Juan de la Peña had sculptured capitals.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Fromista
Iglesia San Martin

photo taken February 28, 2007



One of many Romanesque capitals within the 11th c. church, once part of a large monastery, now an unconsecrated museum.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Carrion dos Condes
Real Monasterio Santa Clara

photo taken November 13, 2014



The view of a prominent cross in the monastery entrance courtyard is repeated on their sello.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Amenal
marker

photo taken December 3, 2011



At Last! Only 13 km more to the cathedral!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Astorga
Roman mosaic

photo taken March 10, 2007



Visible on the camino as you enter Astorga from the east is this mosaic, sculpted with small tesserae.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Mansilla de las Mulas

photo taken March 5, 2007



These tired pilgrims are at the entrance to town.

 

[David Tallan]

Another one from Ávila, on the Vamino de Levante.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Melide

photo taken March 24, 2006



This marker is at the junction of the rua principal and travesia principal, a pedestrian passage which leads to rua San Antonio where the Melide municipal albergue is located.

 

[David Tallan]

A different set of sculptures from the same church in Avila as post #321 (on the Camino de Levant):

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Santo Domingo de la Calzada

photo taken November 2, 2013



Over time chickens have become THE symbol of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. This historic coop complete with live chickens (changed every two weeks!) is within the cathedral.

 

[David Tallan]

In the Cathedral in Leon, last year.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
El Acebo

photo taken November 6, 2004



On the way out of the village I passed this poignant memorial to a German pilgrim killed while cycling here in 1987 .

 

[David Tallan]

Entrance to the church in Portomarin, 2016.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Somewhere on the later part of the CF.

 

[KJFSophie]

I do love going into the cemeteries along the way, paying my respects and remembering my own that have passed. Oftentimes, you'll find the most exquisite grave markers / headstones. I love how even in the tiniest of villages the cemeteries are loving cared for, clean, fresh flowers, monuments washed , crypts polished...it's not something I see here in the northeast part of the USA.

Also interesting, are the full color sculptors in chapels/churches/cathedrals. I often wonder if their restoration was researched and the determination was made that these were the original colors used ( especially in the smaller village churches ) . I know that the Portico of Glory is now all renewed in living color, but I've yet to see it, (perhaps in the coming weeks I will )

I've enjoyed this thread...have seen many, if not all of the sculptures submitted.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
nearing Villafranca Montes de Oca
apse

photo taken February 12, 2009



A solitary vestige of a once vast pre-Romanesque monastery, the Ermita San Felices, appeared forlorn in the bleak light.

 

[alansykes]

Doorway at San Miguel de Escalada (c950). Camino Vadiniense, 2 November, 2023.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Villafranca del Bierzo
Iglesia de Santiago

photo taken November 21, 2011



Medieval pilgrims who arrived at this church door unable to continue were given the same indulgences as valid pilgrims who made it all the way to Santiago de Compostela. Hence this door is known as the Puerta del Perdón/Door of Pardon.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

A solitary vestige of a once vast pre-Romanesque monastery, the Ermita San Felices, appeared forlorn in the bleak light.

I was quite taken by this. It wasn't until MUCH later that I found that it was just a tiny remnant of a much larger structure.

Pantheon of nobles at San Juan de la Peña.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Ponferrada
Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Carmen

photo taken March 23, 2007



It was a splendid surprise to discover the many iconic figures/scenes in this new 1999 painting within the dome of the historic Capilla, adjacent to the San Nicolas de Flüe albergue.
Unfortunately my photo is of a section of the mural not the entire composition.

 

[alansykes]

Capilla de San Roque, Wamba church. Camino de Madrid, 28 October, 2023.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Capilla de San Roque, Wamba church.

Nice. But what's happening at the top right?

 

[alansykes]

Or here?

 

[mspath]

Santiago de Compostela
Cathedral, interior
Puerta Santa /Holy Year door

photo taken December 3, 2011



In 2011, a non Holy Year, these sculpted panels could be seen on the closed Holy Door which is opened only during a Holy Year, a year when St James’ day, the 25th of July, occurs on a Sunday.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Burgos
Cathedral de Santa Maria

photo taken February 24, 2007



Detail of the 13th c. Gothic south portal .

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Somewhat related to the theme of this thread is this reliquary for the arm of Saint Thomas Becket located in the Treasury of the Burgos cathedral. Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was assassinated either on orders of the English King Henry II or on his behalf. He was declared a saint within years and his veneration extended to Spain partly due to Henry's daughter Eleanor who was married to Castile’s King Alfonso VIII. For Becket’s veneration in Spain see the Legacy/Legado section of his Spanish Wikipedia page.

 

[David Tallan]

Here's another one from Wamba.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Here's another one from Wamba.

Last June David wrote this about the capital.

The weighing of the heads I think related to the Last Judgement. You can see the devil on one side and an angel on the other. Maybe the sculptor only had room for heads on the scales.

 

[mspath]

.
Camino Frances
Alto de San Roque,

photo taken November 24, 2011



This contemporary sculpture of a pilgrim in the wind faces west. Tlhe high mountains have been passed; the trail would now descend towards Triacastela.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Villafranca del Bierzo
off route LE-713

photo taken November 7, 2004



Below this tiny figure atop the wall the sign read Estudio de Escultora A. NOGUEIRA

The above exact location was kindly provided in March 2021 by fellow forum member Chenahusky via this earlier post

 

[David Tallan]

Ponte de Lima, Camino Portugues Central, 2018

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
San Justo de la Vega
Cruceiro de Santo Toribio

photo taken November 22, 2013



East of Astorga this sturdy cross rose
amidst the sweeping vista of a vast plain.

 

[David Tallan]

It is getting harder to keep track of which photos I've already shared in this thread.
Here's one from the cathedral in Burgos. Choir stalls are often good sources of little sculptures.

 

[mspath]

Camino Frances
Cizur Menor
albergue Roncal

photo taken 0ctober 1, 2004



Seeing this scallop shell hung at the open doorway during my first CF I immediately sensed that pilgrims were welcome to just walk in.
...Camino life in 2004 was very relaxed!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Temporary art exhibit at Montserrat, 2019.

 

[mspath]

Vézelay, France
La basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine

photo taken December 4, 2008



Entering the light of the Gothic ambulatory was spiritually and visually overwheming after walking from home.

Romanesque, Gothic, and 19th c. intervention here form timeless beauty; eternal peace is melded with man-made perfection.
...May this magnificent site always endure.