Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving

by David Esterly

In this fascinating new study, the work of the greatest of decorative woodcarvers is seen from a unique perspective -- through the eyes of a fellow carver. Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721) is famous for giving wood "the loose and airy lightness of flowers". His flamboyant cascades of blossoms, fruits, foliage, birds, and fish dominate late 17th-century English interiors -- at Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and numerous great country houses. This is the first book to illustrate Gibbons' spectacular work in color and the first to examine his unique construction methods and formidable carving techniques. Author David Esterly, a professional woodcarver, sets Gibbons in historical context and relates the dramatic events of his early life. He then explains the heretofore mysterious layering method by which Gibbons built up his work and describes his tools, materials, and finishing processes in detail. Specially commissioned photographs depict several Gibbons works in a disassembled state, and lush colorplates display the carvings in their full glory.

223 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1998

Reviews

[Noor Khalsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only a world class carver and leading expert on Grinling Gibbons, but a lit. major with a formidable vocabulary.