As we wandered rooted to the ground, so many winged creatures hovered above us.

The raven symbolic of King Matthias Corvinus. Angels, cherubs and griffins galore.

Warlike eagles. The falconer so grim he appears ready to man a guillotine.

Fantastical animals derived from their creators’ nightmares.

A contemporary breasted owl suspended above giant lips is no more whimsical than a centuries-old Icarus-type figure bearing the soles of a saint.

falconer outside Buda Castle

Kunsthalle Institution of the Hungarian Academy of Arts

printing press in Budapest History Museum

outside of Buda Castle

Hungarian National Museum

stained glass griffin in Museum of Ethnography

entrance to City Park

Budapest History Museum

Hungarian National Museum

inlaid panel of furniture in Hungarian National Museum

raven symbolic of King Matthias

Hungarian National Gallery

entrance to City Park