Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2020
  4. October 28
  5. Grotesques of native Ecuadorian seabirds on the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Grotesques of native Ecuadorian seabirds on the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador

October 28, 2020

Grotesques of native Ecuadorian seabirds on the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador

© Henri Leduc/Getty Image

Are these gargoyles?. A 'grotesque' scene in Quito

These seabird statues lining the wall of a cathedral in Ecuador are called grotesques, the architectural term for statues found on the side of buildings for ornamental purposes. But hang on… don't we call them gargoyles? Not exactly. Gargoyles are a particular type of grotesque with a handy feature: spouts that carry rainwater away from the building.

Grotesques often live up to their off-putting name, depicting demons or monsters (the word 'gargoyle' comes from 'gargouille', an evil creature from French legend). But the Basílica del Voto Nacional's grotesques celebrate the beautiful fauna of Ecuador: not only seabirds but iguanas, crocodiles, armadillos and more. Although the Basílica is one of the main tourist attractions in Ecuador’s capital Quito, it's been under construction since 1892 and technically remains unfinished. Legend has it that the world will end when it's complete, so no one's really been rushing the job.

statue outdoor drawing text animal sculpture art stone

Related Images

View of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, TurkeyView of Göreme from an observation deck, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Turkey
The North Beach Jazz Mural by artist Bill Weber in San Francisco, USAThe North Beach Jazz Mural by artist Bill Weber in San Francisco, USA
Grand Canyon National Park during a thunderstorm, Arizona, USAGrand Canyon National Park during a thunderstorm, Arizona, USA
Wales Millennium Centre and The Pierhead building at dawn, Cardiff BayWales Millennium Centre and The Pierhead building at dawn, Cardiff Bay
Old Town section of Bern, SwitzerlandOld Town section of Bern, Switzerland
Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, IndiaMehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
An 1840 design for the Analytical Engine by Charles BabbageAn 1840 design for the Analytical Engine by Charles Babbage
Aerial view of Penn Station, New York City, USA at night in the 1950sAerial view of Penn Station, New York City, USA at night in the 1950s

Today Bing

Necropolis near Dargavs, North Ossetia, Russia

Necropolis near Dargavs, North Ossetia, Russia

Oct 28, 2021
Fort Rock Valley Historical Homestead Museum, Oregon, USA

Fort Rock Valley Historical Homestead Museum, Oregon, USA

Oct 28, 2019
A statue in the Gardens of Versailles in France

A statue in the Gardens of Versailles in France

Oct 28, 2018
Mallards in a cypress swamp, Calcasieu River, Louisiana, USA

Mallards in a cypress swamp, Calcasieu River, Louisiana, USA

Oct 28, 2017
Mist across the Transylvanian countryside in Romania

Mist across the Transylvanian countryside in Romania

Oct 28, 2016

Related Tags

text sky building cloud outdoor nature landscape city mountain canyon valley light skyscraper tower cityscape sunset house dusk person man
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.