The Grotesque in Church Art

"The Grotesque in Church Art" by T. Tindall Wildridge is an analytic study from the 1800s that dissects the presence of strange and unusual figures in religious art, explaining how these odd images connect to the art, stories, and history of the time; it shows how these artistic choices changed over time and what they say about the people who made and viewed them. The author begins with an introduction, laying out the plan for the study and the kinds of strange figures that will be looked at, focusing on the need for everyone to understand what these images mean and the link between religious art and older, non-Christian traditions, hinting that much of what appears in religious designs may come from previous beliefs. This start sets the stage for the arguments that Wildridge will make, as he prepares to go further into the artistic qualities, historical background, and cultural importance of these strange figures in religious art throughout the book.