Medieval Monsters

I have been researching into medieval depictions of monsters and dragons. In particular, the depiction of demons and manifestations of the devil. Medieval illustration depicts these monsters slain violently by a religious figure, representing good versus evil, the believers punishing the non believers. Many of the monsters resembled a human figure to an extent, often with extra grinning faces and heads twisting their body into a grotesque shape.

Many medieval monsters were drawn with bat wings, a representation of these demons being fallen angels from heaven. This is why many gargoyles have webbed wings, as a reference to their origins, and to relate to their birdlike appearance of roosting on top of a building.

The image of a many headed demon reminds me north american totem animals, which have more of a positive meaning, as opposed to being a harbinger of evil. This has inspired me to design a many headed beast as one of my sculptures.

Other origins of monstrous illustration were inspired by that of the unknown. As much of the world still lay undiscovered, people would wonder what inhabited other continents. Some tests record of descriptions of other races of humans bering traits such as no mouths, for having to need to et or drink, to people with only one large foot, which could be used an umbrella in the rain. These stories inspired Christian lore, and it was debated whether these creature descended from Adam, which would make them of similar status to man. It is evident in these illustrations that they have inspired the traits of monsters and gargoyles.

Reference

http://www.artsology.com/monsters_in_art.php

http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/medieval/monsters/medievalmonsters.html