Author: David Esterly Publisher: Prelude Books ISBN: 0715646494 Category : Art Languages : en Pages : 293
Book Description
Awestruck by the sight of a Grinling Gibbons carving in a London church, David Esterly chose to dedicate his life to the art – its physical control, intricate beauty and intellectual demands. Until his death in 2019 he was the foremost practitioner of Gibbons’s forgotten technique, which revolutionised ornamental sculpture in the late 1600s. After a fire at Hampton Court Palace in 1986 destroyed much of Gibbons’s masterpiece, the job fell to David Esterly to restore his idol’s work to its former glory. It turned out to be the most challenging year in Esterly’s life, forcing him to question his abilities and delve deeply into what it means to make something well. Exploring the determination, concentration and skill that go into achieving any form of excellence, Esterly breathed life into the world of wood carving. This special collector's edition of The Lost Carving reveals an astonishing life and deftly illustrates the union of man and material necessary to create a lasting work of art.
Author: David Esterly Publisher: ISBN: Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 228
Book Description
Published to coincide with the first ever exhibition of the work of Grinling Gibbons, this study looks at Gibbons' work from the perspective of a fellow wood carver.
Author: David Esterly Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 0143124412 Category : Biography & Autobiography Languages : en Pages : 290
Book Description
“A beautiful, intricate meditation on creativity and discovery, on fire and rebirth.” —Elizabeth Gilbert Awestruck at the sight of a Grinling Gibbons carving in a London church, David Esterly chose to dedicate his life to woodcarving—its physical rhythms, intricate beauty, and intellectual demands. Forty years later, he is the foremost practitioner of Gibbons’s forgotten technique, which revolutionized ornamental sculpture in the late 1600s with its spectacular cascades of flowers, fruits, and foliage. After a disastrous fire at Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace, Esterly was asked to replace the Gibbons masterpiece destroyed by the flames. It turned out to be the most challenging year in Esterly’s life, forcing him to question his abilities and delve deeply into what it means to make a thing well. Written with a philosopher’s intellect and a poet’s grace, The Lost Carving explores the connection between creativity and physical work and illuminates the passionate pursuit of a vocation that unites head and hand and heart.
Author: David Esterly Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum ISBN: 9781838510299 Category : Languages : en Pages : 224
Book Description
Reissued to mark 300 years since the death of Grinling Gibbons (1648 - 1721), the greatest of decorative woodcarvers, this book reviews his work through the eyes of fellow carver, the late David Esterly Reissued to mark 300 years since the death of Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), this study views the work of the greatest of decorative woodcarvers from the perspective of a fellow carver, the late David Esterly. Grinling Gibbons is famous for giving wood "the loose and airy lightness of flowers." His flamboyant cascades of lifelike blossoms, fruits, foliage, birds and fish dominate English interiors of the late seventeenth century. They are among the glories of Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as Badminton, Burghley, Petworth, and other great country houses. A contemporary of Christopher Wren and of the diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, Gibbons was part of the colourful world of Restoration England. His discovery by Evelyn in a tumble-down cottage near the River Thames was followed by a presentation to King Charles II, who rejected his early sculptural work. Gibbons responded by inventing his spectacular style of decorative carving. He was then rediscovered, reintroduced to the king, and launched into a triumphant career. After setting Gibbons in historical context, David Esterly's ground-breaking approach allows us to understand the process by which these exuberant carvings were created and how their forms reflect the organization of Gibbon's workshop. Esterly, a professional woodcarver who restored some of Gibbons' most important carvings, shares his unique knowledge of the layering process by which Gibbons built up such masterpieces as the Cosimo panel or the elaborate overmantels at Hampton Court Palace. Specially commissioned photographs show these carvings in a disassembled state, revealing the secrets of their construction. Esterly also discusses Gibbons' formidable carving techniques, and his tools, workshop practice, materials, and finishing are described in detail. This generously illustrated volume will have a special appeal for carvers as well as for those interested in seventeenth-century interiors and the decorative arts.
Author: Jan Loney Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN: 9781600594731 Category : Art Languages : en Pages : 136
Book Description
Metalsmithing can be a daunting task, especially to the beginner. This beautifully photographed, comprehensive guide provides crafters of all levels with a gentle, user-friendly approach to substantial metal jewelry-making skills. After reviewing the fundamentals of jewelry design, raw materials, and safety in the studio, readers are introduced to tools for cutting, drilling, forming, soldering, polishing, and more. Next, they will learn a variety of techniques including piercing, stamping, forging, annealing, oxidizing, casting, and even setting stones, enabling them to create 25 stunning and professional-looking projects. "
Author: David Esterly
Author: David Esterly
Author: David Esterly
Author: Jögge Sundqvist
Author: David Esterly
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Author: Jan Loney
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Author: Wilhelm Lübke