A gargoyle sprays water on the people below in this whimsical vintage drawing. The gargoyle has gone through a number of changes throughout history. The word gargoyle has roots related to swallowing and is perhaps why this name was applied to architectural features that were once employed as drain spouts much like what is depicted in this image. They also did a bit of double duty in protecting the building and those within from evil – the uglier and more grotesque the gargoyle, the more powerful it was. Either way, this fun vintage image is copyright free and ready to be added to your next creative project.
The author of The Mythological Zoo introduced the children of 1912 to a menagerie full of mythological beasts, heroes and villians. All of them were brought to life by the artist Oliver Herford (1863-1935).
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
