Exciting news! A previously unknown sculpture by Englands finest-ever woodcarver has been discovered hidden in plain sight in a church in Henbury, Bristol, United Kingdom. The marble monument to Elizabeth Southwell of Kings Weston House has hung on the wall of St Mary the Virgin Church in Henbury since it was completed in 1684. But only now, 330 years later, has its significance as a work of the master sculptor Grinling Gibbons been recognised, following research by the Kings Weston Action Group. Grinling Gibbons was a famous sculptor who worked extensively on Hampton Court Palace, St. Pauls Cathedral and Blenheim Palace. He has been described by experts as the greatest woodcarver the British Isles has ever produced and the Michelangelo of wood, but he also excelled in stone, marble and bronze. David Martyn from the Kings Weston Action Group said: This is a major discovery and adds a really significant new work to the artistic treasures of Bristol. Wed seen the documentary evidence of the monument having existed, but we believed it had been long dismantled and lost. Its astonishing that its survived so long and that no one else has identified it as Gibbons work before we came along. St Mary the Virgin Church is a stunning Grade II* Listed Saxon Church, first founded around 691–92 when King Æthelred of Mercia made a grant of land to Oftfor, Bishop of Worcester - so its well worth a visit (and even more so now that the monument by the master Grinling Gibbons has been re-discovered!). p.s. If Mr Gibbons beautiful work caught your eye, you must take a look at our Inspiring Imagery galleries on our website (theyre full of many more amazing pieces of craftsmanship!): nationalchurchestrust.org/discover-churches/inspiring-imagery
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:49:28 +0000
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