How are grotesques and gargoyles used in architecture?

In architecture, a gargoyle (/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/) is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. read more

Gargoyles and the Grotesque in Medieval Architecture. By Mamie Fain. Paper given at the 7th Annual CVPA Emerging Scholars & Teachers in the Arts Symposium 2011. Introduction: During the Medieval Ages religion was one of the most important aspects of daily life. read more

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. read more