Outlines – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday DoorsTags:
South Portico, Leon Cathedral, Spain. Image credit: © UNAMARINA | Stock

removed statues

outlines of their true selves,

stone speaks of them

***This short post adds to a previous #ThursdayDoors feature on León Cathedral, Spain.

Its uppermost sections held together with more stained glass than stone — Leon Cathedral, Spain (1205 A.D) also known as “The House of Light’s” south portico— is today’s featured doors.

Close up -South Portico, Leon Cathedral, Spain. Image credit: © LUNAMARINA | iStock

You may have noted the blank spaces and outlines in the walls flanking the doors (See the images above).

Many of León Cathedral’s exterior sculptures have been removed for restoration and safekeeping. These pieces are now displayed in the cathedral’s museum or cloister.

Fun Fact: Restorers discovered that some of the sculptures now housed in the cathedral’s cloister and museum still bear the original marks of their sculptors—an unusual practice in the medieval period when most skilled workers remained anonymous. This makes these pieces particularly rare in the context of this cathedral’s construction history.

Leon Cathedral, Spain. Image credit: © Ricardo Alvarez Garcia | Dreamstime

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

44 thoughts on “Outlines – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors”

  1. Pingback: Outlines – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  2. The walls look so bare without the statues. I wonder if they are thinking about placing replicas in their place. I understand the desire to preserve and protect – a worthy goal, but the entrance looks a little sad. Interesting about the sculptor’s marks. It’s hard to imagine a time when sculptors that good would be viewed as labor and creating such beautiful art as a job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. HI Dan. Well said. It does look bare. The cathedral facade is in ongoing restoration, because of continued effects of the elements. I cannot say for certain but my guess is that replicas will be installed to match the grand (West) entrance’s doors look and feel with their sculptures and replicas.
      So true that there was a time when the great talent of these artists, sculptors and stone-work geniuses who built stone works to look like lace in some places, would be unsung creatives. I applaud their humility.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. The Leonine beauty, one is mesmerised by its majesty and size with its small walls and enormous window openings, where the finest medieval stained-glass windows in the world were inserted.

    Consecrated under the name of the Virgin Mary.

    the most important Gothic cathedral, although it was not the first to be built – that accolade goes to Ávila cathedral

    I love everything about the Thursday door offering – outlines of their true self. There is something very liberating about that statement; a relief to be stripped down naked and given the time to breathe.

    These pieces with its rare sculptor markings deserve to be preserved. Labours of love worked into fine art.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I love your expressions of grandeur that match the totality of this great cathedral…(“The Leonine beauty…majesty and size)
      The phases of restoration does sometimes seem unique but I agree with you there is a birth of sorts that seems to happens to buildings restored from the ground up brick by brick, wall by wall and the case of Leon, every piece of stained glass piece by piece, removed,  (zhuzh-ed) jushed up to sparkle like new and then but back in place. And yes, there is that in between kind of bareness…but for a good and hoped-for outcome. Amen
      So glad you enjoy the share on ThursdayDoor. Thank you for your insightful comments shared. I delight truly.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ah that is a beautiful elaboration to my feeling of peeling of the layers, for a good and hoped for outcome, renewed and sparkling.

        You are most welcome Poet.
        A beautiful share
        And I delight.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. What an interesting twist on the statues. We were just looking at Leon yesterday. We’re on our way to Portugal, Morocco and a bit of Spain soon and trying to see if we can fit Leon in. That actually just made me think to look back on your Thursday Doors to see what else there may be in Portugal or Spain that isn’t on our list. Maggie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh so amazing what serendipity..I had in mind do a second share of door(s) from Leon Cathedral for sometime now and only today just was able to fit it in.
      Maggie, I would love to read your travels of any of the places you are considering. You are so blessed. And, safe travels Maggie.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. It is unusual and so noticed not to have statues at the front of the cathedral but makes sense since it’s under renovation. Your haiku is awesome, Suzette❣️. No hiding behind any pretense here.. The stone says it all and protects!! 💓👏

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  14. How fascinating about the markings on those sculptures. Yes, we have been left with such incredible ancient and nameless beauty. We are right to wonder who left us these wonders, so I’m glad that these pieces with names are being preserved. The empty places on the stone are so ghostly! And yet they do seem to give us a person. Yes, the “stone speaks.” Thanks, Suzette!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes I do wonder on the selfless works of great talents that created these monuments and sculptures. Their work seemed to me to be also one of devotion.
      You are welcome. Sunday Blessings to you and happy New Month.

      Liked by 1 person

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