Monumental Art
Funerary art is considered to be any work of art found within a repository for the remains of the dead. This project was inspired to detail and delineate remarkable elevated works of artisans and their creative approach to burial rituals and markers. Craftsmen using stone, wood and metals to create visual stories of passion, pain and redemption melding with the human desire to make its existence in a medium that will withstand the passing of years. Images taken from historic cemeteries in Iceland, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, displayed as the beautiful art they truly are.
Cimitero delle Porte Sante (The Sacred Doors Cemetery)
Florence, Italy
Situated in Florence, Italy, Cimitero delle Porte Sante (The Sacred Doors Cemetery) was initiated in 1837 within the fortified walls of the Basilica San Miniato al Monte. We were fortunate to visit the basilica and cemetery in 2019 on an extended stay in Florence.
The cemetery shares a close relationship with the Romanesque basilica and adjoining Olivtan monastery, sitting atop one of the highest points in Florence providing a spectacular view of the city, Renaissance walls, Arno River, olive groves and winding streets.
Originally, the grounds were divided into excavation burials in the central area with chapels and columbaria along the bastions. Eventually the tombs began to be decorated with crosses, vases and statues and subsequently, large areas of the land were used for monuments and chapels.
Visiting Porte Sante is a visit into Florentine history and an excursion into the world of monumental art.
​
Click on an image to enlarge.
You can easily purchase any of these images in the size and material of your choice. Contact for further information.
We spent hours walking through the beautiful collection of sculptures honoring loved ones. The trek across the Ponte Vecchio to the cemetery from our apartment was a 40 minute hike along narrow, sidewalk-less, cobbled streets. Even though were were there in March, the daytime temperatures were in the 20c's and made the uphill journey alongside pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles and a few cars daunting. We visited this cemetery three times - I promised my traveling companion each time would be the last - but, we were drawn back with a desire to capture the intricate work of the master craftsman.
"I really want to be able to show the depth of character infused into the material the artisan worked with."
The unique monuments in Porte Sante showcase the talents of many local artisans. The stonemasons, metalsmiths and scupltors who brought ideas and thoughts to life creating memorializing works of art that continue to inspire all who view them.
Click on an image to enlarge.
Most of the tombs were inscribed, giving names and dates - bringing the area's history to life. One amongst them did not. It was an amazing and formidable work of art. A small girl in period clothing is seen leaping from a stool that is falling over. She is surrounded with toys and books. She is reaching for a shrouded incarnation of herself. There is an exquisite story being told. It will stoke every emotion you have when you view it. This is Emma.
Il Cimitero degli Inglesi (English Cemetery)
Florence, Italy
The English Cemetery was founded in 1827 by the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church as an international and ecumenical cemetery. Set outside the medieval wall and gate, Russian and Greek Orthodox burials joined the Protestant ones. English-speaking British and Americans are the majority as the Anglophone community in the 19th century was the largest.
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​
The cemetery, is located in the middle of a ring of traffic, on a flower strewn hill with elegant marblework, undoubtedly, the most unique of urban roundabouts. Due to its' isolating nature, Florentines have called it L’isola dei Morti (Isle of the Dead).
There are 1400 souls from 16 different nationalities interned in English Cemetery, including several well-known individuals such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Located close to my Florence apartment, the cemetery provided a beautiful, gated garden with stone benches and pebbled pathways.
​
The cemetery shows a multitude of different ways of conceiving death, displayed through art and symbolism.
The Grieving Mother monument is found at the grave of Arnold Savage Landor. The sculptor, Michele Pomar, created a life-sized effigy of Arnold's mother, Julia Savage Landor, at her request. The detail crafted into this statue is extraordinary - as is the story behind it.
One of the more famous markers is that of the Grim Reaper scything poppies and lilies. It is as unique as it is spectacular. Created by sculptor, Prof. Giuseppe Lazzerini, this monument marks the grave of Italian teen, Andrea Casentini (1855-1870).
​
Cementiri de Montjuic (Montjuic Cemetery)
Barcelona, Spain
Montjuic Cemetery sits on 56 hectares facing the Mediterranean Ocean and part of the large Montjuic Park with it's amazing hill top castle.
​
It opened in 1883 and is like a mini city of massive works of art.
Cementiris de Barcelona S.A. provides a detailed map of the cemetery with 3 walking tours outlined - the Artistic Route, the Historical Route and the Combined Route - all taking about 3 hours to navigate. With over one million burials and cremation ashes in 150,000 plots, niches and mausolea, you can spend hours studying the history and art of Spain.
Winding up the hillside, this major necropolis of Barcelona contains valuable examples of funerary art and the only collection of hearses in Europe.
Click on an image to enlarge.
"I have to go back. There wasn't enough time ... including a museum holding collection of horse-drawn carriages and hearses."
Cementiri de Poblenou (Poblenou Cemetery)
Barcelona, Spain
The old Poblenu Cemetery was destroyed by Napoleon's troops in 1775 and rebuilt in 1819. It has more than 34,000 graves in a total area of ​​52,700m2 and was the first cemetery outside the city walls of Barcelona. It is often thought of as a small museum of funerary art.
Wandering through the labyrinthine pathways of tombs, you come across a diverse range of
architectural styles that mirror the evolution of art and design over the centuries.
Kiss of Death, sculpture Jaume Barba 1930
With an expansion in the second half of the 19th century, the affluent families of the Barcelona bourgeoisie began to build mausoleums of great artistic quality. Around the cemetery there is a vast variety of memorials including tombs of unknowns.
Poblenou Cemetery was four blocks from our apartment in Barcelona. It was a quiet morning when we visited, greeting others who had come to pay their respects.
Once again, the Cementiris de Barcelona S.A. provide a walking tour map of the grounds, pointing out architectural highlights.
Iceland's Rural Cemeteries
I visited Iceland in 2018. We didn't stay in Reykjavík very long, but headed out to a lovely home where they bred Iceland horses. On the journey, I was captivated by the number of churches that appeared identical, scattered closely across the country.
Iceland was discovered by Norwegian Vikings and adopted Christianity under the King of Norway in AD 1000.
Currently, about 60% of Iceland's population lives in Reykjavík which wasn't the case for most of their history. Small villages dotted the landscape and the small churches became community centres as well as houses of worship.
People did not want to travel long distances and subsequently they they built many churches, very small ones. ​Icelands' major ring road wasn't completed until 1974 and even now, most roads are often not accessible part of the year.
​
​
​
"It didn't take much to have me stopping at these quaint chapels along the way."
Lutheran became the established church in Iceland under the supervision of the Church of Denmark.
With the harsh land and often extremely bad weather, these cemeteries reflect the stark, barren landscape they sit upon. The monuments in these cemeteries tend to be conservative and often use materials that will withstand the Iceland weather over time.
​
All images here are copyright and not for free use.
It is prohibited to use any of these photos without permission in any media, including personal websites and blogs.
Cimitero delle Porte Sante (The Sacred Doors Cemetery)
Florence, Italy
Situated in Florence, Italy, Cimitero delle Porte Sante (The Sacred Doors Cemetery) was initiated in 1837 within the fortified walls of the Basilica San Miniato al Monte. We were fortunate to visit the basilica and cemetery in 2019 on an extended stay in Florence.
The cemetery shares a close relationship with the Romanesque basilica and adjoining Olivtan monastery, sitting atop one of the highest points in Florence providing a spectacular view of the city, Renaissance walls, Arno River, olive groves and winding streets.
Originally, the grounds were divided into excavation burials in the central area with chapels and columbaria along the bastions. Eventually the tombs began to be decorated with crosses, vases and statues and subsequently, large areas of the land were used for monuments and chapels.
Visiting Porte Sante is a visit into Florentine history and an excursion into the world of monumental art.
​
Click on an image to enlarge.
You can easily purchase any of these images in the size and material of your choice. Contact for further information.
We spent hours walking through the beautiful collection of sculptures honoring loved ones. The trek across the Ponte Vecchio to the cemetery from our apartment was a 40 minute hike along narrow, sidewalk-less, cobbled streets. Even though were were there in March, the daytime temperatures were in the 20c's and made the uphill journey alongside pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles and a few cars daunting. We visited this cemetery three times - I promised my traveling companion each time would be the last - but, we were drawn back with a desire to capture the intricate work of the master craftsman.
"I really want to be able to show the depth of character infused into the material the artisan worked with."
The unique monuments in Porte Sante showcase the talents of many local artisans. The stonemasons, metalsmiths and sculptors who brought ideas and thoughts to life creating
memorializing works of art that continue to inspire ones who view them.
Click on an image to enlarge.
Most of the tombs were inscribed, giving names and dates - bringing the area's history to life. One amongst them did not. It was an amazing and formidable work of art. A small girl in period clothing is seen leaping from a stool that is falling over. She is surrounded with toys and books. She is reaching for a shrouded incarnation of herself. There is an exquisite story being told. It will stoke every emotion you have when you view it. This is Emma.
Il Cimitero degli Inglesi (English Cemetery)
Florence, Italy
The English Cemetery was founded in 1827 by the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church as an international and ecumenical cemetery. Set outside the medieval wall and gate, Russian and Greek Orthodox burials joined the Protestant ones. English-speaking British and Americans are the majority as the Anglophone community in the 19th century was the largest.
​
​
The cemetery, is located in the middle of a ring of traffic, on a flower strewn hill with elegant marblework, undoubtedly, the most unique of urban roundabouts. Due to its' isolating nature, Florentines have called it L’isola dei Morti (Isle of the Dead).
There are 1400 souls from 16 different nationalities interned in English Cemetery, including several well-known individuals such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Located close to my Florence apartment, the cemetery provided a beautiful, gated garden with stone benches and pebbled pathways.
​
The cemetery shows a multitude of different ways of conceiving death, displayed through art and symbolism.
The Grieving Mother monument is found at the grave of Arnold Savage Landor. The sculptor, Michele Pomar, created a life-sized effigy of Arnold's mother, Julia Savage Landor, at her request. The detail crafted into this statue is extraordinary - as is the story behind it.
One of the more famous markers is that of the Grim Reaper scything poppies and lilies. It is as unique as it is spectacular. Created by sculptor, Prof. Giuseppe Lazzerini, this monument marks the grave of Italian teen, Andrea Casentini (1855-1870).
​
Cementiri de Montjuic (Montjuic Cemetery)
Barcelona, Spain
Montjuic Cemetery sits on 56 hectares facing the Mediterranean Ocean and part of the large Montjuic Park with it's amazing hill top castle.
​
It opened in 1883 and is like a mini city of massive works of art.
Cementiris de Barcelona S.A. provides a detailed map of the cemetery with 3 walking tours outlined - the Artistic Route, the Historical Route and the Combined Route - all taking about 3 hours to navigate. With over one million burials and cremation ashes in 150,000 plots, niches and mausolea, you can spend hours studying the history and art of Spain.
Winding up the hillside, this major necropolis of Barcelona contains valuable examples of funerary art and the only collection of hearses in Europe.
Click on an image to enlarge.
"I have to go back. There wasn't enough time ... including a museum holding collection of horse-drawn carriages and hearses."
Cementiri de Poblenou (Poblenou Cemetery)
Barcelona, Spain
The old Poblenu Cemetery was destroyed by Napoleon's troops in 1775 and rebuilt in 1819. It has more than 34,000 graves in a total area of ​​52,700m2 and was the first cemetery outside the city walls of Barcelona. It is often thought of as a small museum of funerary art.
Wandering through the labyrinthine pathways of tombs, you come across a diverse range of
architectural styles that mirror the evolution of art and design over the centuries.
Kiss of Death, sculpture Jaume Barba 1930
With an expansion in the second half of the 19th century, the affluent families of the Barcelona bourgeoisie began to build mausoleums of great artistic quality. Around the cemetery there is a vast variety of memorials including tombs of unknowns.
Poblenou Cemetery was four blocks from our apartment in Barcelona. It was a quiet morning when we visited, greeting others who had come to pay their respects.
Once again, the Cementiris de Barcelona S.A. provide a walking tour map of the grounds, pointing out architectural highlights.
Iceland's Rural Cemeteries
I visited Iceland in 2018. We didn't stay in Reykjavík very long, but headed out to a lovely home where they bred Iceland horses. On the journey, I was captivated by the number of churches that appeared identical, scattered closely across the country.
Iceland was discovered by Norwegian Vikings and adopted Christianity under the King of Norway in AD 1000.
Currently, about 60% of Iceland's population lives in Reykjavík which wasn't the case for most of their history. Small villages dotted the landscape and the small churches became community centres as well as houses of worship.
People did not want to travel long distances and subsequently they they built many churches, very small ones. ​Icelands' major ring road wasn't completed until 1974 and even now, most roads are often not accessible part of the year.
​
​
​
"It didn't take much to have me stopping at these quaint chapels along the way."
Lutheran became the established church in Iceland under the supervision of the Church of Denmark.
With the harsh land and often extremely bad weather, these cemeteries reflect the stark, barren landscape they sit upon. The monuments in these cemeteries tend to be conservative and often use materials that will withstand the Iceland weather over time.
​
All images here are copyright and not for free use.
It is prohibited to use any of these photos without permission in any media, including personal websites and blogs.