Grotesques at St. George
St. George’s Chapel at Windsor has
literally reinvented the medieval genre of
grotesques
The College of St George has been working in partnership with the City and Guilds of London Art School
in establishing an imaginative carving programme which is producing exciting new grotesque sculptures
for St George’s Chapel.
The replacement sculptures aim to reproduce the scale and detail of the original mediaeval conception
whilst allowing students the opportunity to be inventive in designing new carvings. The new grotesques
replace heavily eroded Victorian grotesques which themselves replaced medieval carvings of unknown
design.
In architecture the term “grotesque” means a carved stone figure. Grotesques are often confused with
gargoyles, but the distinction is that gargoyles are figures that contain a water-spout through the mouth,
while grotesques do not. This type of sculpture is also called a chimera. Grotesques and Gargoyles
experienced their heyday in the Gothic period.
Grotesques ready to be positioned on the wall of St George at
Windsor
Students were encouraged and mentored throughout the process. Visits to the Chapel by City & Guilds
students included a close up look at some of the 15th century wooden carvings in the Quire to help fire
their imagination; visits to the City & Guilds by some of the Chapel team and the Sculpture Group of the
Fabric Advisory Committee helped the dialogue remain fresh and exciting.
Among the really imaginative designs is a recreation of the famous ear-mouse from 1997, which had a
human ear protruding from its back. Other designs are a fish with a human head, the earth mother and a
the Hindu elephant god, Ganesha. Not all designs were accepted by the dean, though. For instance a pair
of feet with sneakers was rejected. However, according to the Guardian the dean and canons feel elated
by the charm of the new gargoyles laughing down from high up on the outer wall of the chapel. The new
carvings are in a creamy Syreford stone from the Cotswold.
The college and church of St George were founded by
Edward III in 1348 at the same time as the Order of the
Garter. However, the present chapel is a light-filled
wonder of late Gothic architecture, which was
commissioned by Edward IV in 1475, who was also buried
there. Despite the fact that it is full of royal tombs
including those of Henry VIII and Charles I the college of
St. George is ain fact an independent institution. At its
heart it is a community of people who live and work
together to offer worship to God, prayers for the Sovereign
and the Order of the Garter, service to the society and hospitality to visitors.
SOURCE:
Imaginative Sculpture – Protecting the Sacred Space
VISIT:
The exhibition – Imaginative Sculpture: Protecting the Sacred Space – in the Dean’s Cloister (at the
exit from St George’s Chapel) will normally be open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm until 18
December; Windsor Castle admission charges apply. At the centre of the exhibition are ten grotesque
sculptures together with an explanation of the creative and selection process.
READ MORE:
A catalogue, priced at £10, is available to purchase from the
Chapel Shop in the Dean’s Cloister or from our website – click to
purchase catalogue online. The catalogue feature photographs of
all the new grotesques created as a result of the collaboration
between the Dean & Canons of Windsor and the City & Guilds of
London Art School.
To find out more about the sculpting process you can watch the video below and visit the website of the
City & Guilds of London Art School
SEE MORE:
Creating new grotesques for St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle from St George’s on Vimeo.