American in Spain

The Flowers and Faces of Convento de las Dueñas - Salamanca 2015 - Part 2 of 3

October 12, 2015

On the morning of October 11th, we visited several places around Salamanca, but one we had not planned on entering, but just happened upon was the Convento de las Dueñas, a Dominican convent that dates back to 1419, when Doña Juana Rodríquez Maldonado – ironically, as her second surname means "badly donated" – donated her palatial Moorish-style house to the Dominican Order.

There are certain circumstances, based on weather, mood, lighting and other intangibles, when everything seems photogenic. With the ground wet from a night of rainfall, I found myself in one of these states that morning, and I could have spent hours upon hours taking photographs in the beautiful courtyard of the Convento de las Dueñas. Alas, I exercised constraint, but here are only some of my photos. Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

The door to the courtyard.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Arches.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Another door. When I touch old wood like this, I wonder how long ago it was chopped from a tree.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Convent flower.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Glistening rose.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Tourists wishing this was our garden.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

I'm in your Moorish keyhole arch.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Church bells and flower petals.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Convent petal drops.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

You can barely see the faces in this shot, but every single column is lined with a handful of some of the ghoulish stone faces you've ever seen.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

One last flower shot before we head up to visit the faces.

Faces

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

That's the Salamanca Cathedral in the background.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Some pretty sad faces.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Here, you can see how every column was loaded with faces.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

As with gargoyles, the Catholic art tradition was very much into displaying evil and scary hell monsters. Perhaps the proper word for this is a chimera?

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

These sculptors were extremely creative!

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Walking around the square garden looking at faces.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

I could not keep a straight face.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

I found the detail on the wavy hair particularly impressive.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Nice 'stache.

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

Winged goat-dragons?

Convento de las Dueñas, Salamanca

No legs and wings for arms.

What a beautiful, if a bit grotesque, place this convent was, and we just happened upon it during our walk through town.