Comments on: In Search Of Grinling Gibbons

By: Cherub

Cherub — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:17:10 +0000

I did a course on English Architecture and Furniture from 1603 – 1750 when I was at university 30 years ago. Our tutor took us on a visit to Oxford University and we saw a lot of Gibbons carvings there, absolutely beautiful. This was a man with amazing skill, I love the story of him carving pea pods then opening them when he was paid even though it’s said to be a myth.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:21:05 +0000

But, what about the pea pods? I learned about those when a Yeoman Warder showed me the one on the carving on the organ at the Chapel Royal at the Tower. We got into an argument about then Prince Charles after that, but I remember the pea pods. Supposedly, Gibbons always included a closed pea pod in his work. When it was paid for, he “opened” the pod, at least according to the Yeoman Warder. True? False? I’m still curious after many years.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 13:24:53 +0000

The remnants of putti wings made me gasp. Actually — gasp.
Although the human figures and horse are magnificent, I was especially captivated by the carvings of flora. The leaves are so languid, fluid, graceful. One can almost sense how soft-to-the-touch
and pliable they are — yet these began as blocks of wood. Astounding.
Am very grateful for the discoveries I’ve made through Spitalfields Life. Today’s post was a reminder of how we, the Readers, are enriched every day. In our current world, the stories I find here give me much-needed optimism. Thank you, GA!

By: Sally Kindberg

Sally Kindberg — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:50:23 +0000

Wonderful! Especially love the tray of wings in St Pauls, thank you for this

By: Arabella

Arabella — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:38:54 +0000

Wonderful artist with great name – he carved the magnificent frame for the portrait of Elias Ashmole in The Ashmolean. I always stop to wonder at it when I visit.