Human Gargoyle

myminifactory

This sculpture can indeed be considered a gargoyle due to the hole in the man's mouth, which was likely used to divert rainwater from the roof down onto the floor. The grotesque and twisted nature of his features may also evoke the frightening creatures found on Gothic monuments and constructions, often designed to symbolize evil and ward off malevolent spirits from entering sacred spaces. These gargoyles served a dual purpose: they represented evil while simultaneously ensuring that water didn't accumulate on rooftops by directing it down into the streets below. The fact that this sculpture employs a human subject lends credence to the idea that Early Renaissance artists sought to distance themselves from Gothic influences of the Middle Ages, adopting a more subdued approach in their works.