The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Guardian Griffin (pair)

Guardian Griffin (pair)

1150–1175

Did You Know?

According to medieval bestiaries, griffins could tear a man to pieces and carry a whole bovine away, as seen here.

Description

Griffins are fabled creatures that have the characteristics of an eagle and a lion—combining watchfulness and courage. In Christian art, the dual nature of the griffin was often used to signify that of Christ himself: divine (bird) and human (animal). Griffins were often used as guardian figures in church sculpture and were placed in portals and choir screens. The creatures seen here, with their inward-turning heads, were certainly used for such a purpose. When viewed from the front, one griffin may be seen clutching the figure of a knight between its paws, while the other griffin holds a calf. Their original function was probably to support the columns of a porch in front of a church doorway.
  • said to have come from the residence of a Cardinal Leona, east of Bologna.
  • C. L. Ragghianti, "Sculpture del Secolo XII a Ferrara, 1," Critica d'Arte, XLII, n. s. fasc. 154-156 (JulyDecember 1977). pp. 53-54, figs. 21-22.
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 56 archive.org
    Cahn, Walter, and Linda Seidel. Romanesque Sculpture in American Collections. New York: B. Franklin, 1978. no. B III 14, 163-65
    Bocchi, Francesca. 7 colonne e 7 chiese: la vicenda ultramillenaria del complesso di Santo Stefano in Bologna : Museo civico archeologico. Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna: Grafis, 1987. p. 160
    Turner, Evan H. Object Lessons: Cleveland Creates an Art Museum. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1991. no. 25
  • Medieval Monsters: Terrors, Aliens, Wonders. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (July 7-October 6, 2019).
  • {{cite web|title=Guardian Griffin (pair)|url=false|author=|year=1150–1175|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1928.861