We're going to detour off the Straight and Narrow today, take a path
less trodden.  Some might view today's post as unusual, odd, even
uncomfortable.  Why?  Because today we're going to visit cemeteries.

Until the 14th and 15th centuries, sculptures were primarily memorial

works of art intended to be displayed at churches or on monuments.  The

tradition of commissioning sculptors to honor a loved one continues today.

Source

  Located in the Alter Friedhoff cemetery, this is the grave of a young

German girl, Caroline Walter, who died in 1867 of tuberculosis.  Her

sister commissioned a sculptor to create a life-like monument to Caroline,

showing her as if she had fallen asleep while reading a book.

Source

The grave of English boxer Thomas Sayers (1826-1865)

is located in Highgate Cemetery and is marked by a sculpture

of Lion, Sayer's loyal dog.

In 1897, James Melvin commissioned
Daniel French to create a memorial for
his three brothers who died in the Civil
War - Asa, John and Samuel Melvin.

The monument was completed in 1908
and installed in the Sleepy Hollow
Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts.
Source

Guardian angels have always been a timeless, traditional theme. 

Lara Hartley Photography

The Rose Garland Angel in Inglewood Park Cemetery,

Los Angeles, CA

Kerepesi Cemetery, Budapest, Hungary

The Obedient Angel

Richard Aigner created this Art Nouveau-inspired memorial for Rufina

Cambaceres in 1902.   Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Brazil

Not everyone in the Victorian period chose an angelic marker.

Twins Bennett and Frederick Harding went a more unusual route:

Since I was a young child I've enjoyed visiting historic cemeteries

and viewing beautiful headstones.  As I grew up and became interested

in genealogy my visits to graveyards became an adventure of discovery.

How fascinating to view the stone that forever marks a person's

existence on Earth.

Many people now opt for a less traditional grave marker,

often choosing personal reflections of their life and individuality.

The Telegraph

Located in Manor Park, Cemetery, East London, this

is the life-size BMW headstone of Steve Marsh.

For years I asked my husband to purchase burial plots for us in a local, historic cemetery.  When he asked me two years ago what I wanted for Christmas, I replied, "Our cemetery plots."  He finally broke down and purchased them and said, "Please don't tell anyone I gave you a cemetery plot for Christmas."   Okay, but I'm looking at monuments for our anniversary!