Saturday 30 March 2013

An Easter offering: Grinling Gibbons

I had been struggling to think of a little Easter appropriate offering for my blog. Of course the walls and store rooms of London's galleries are filled with paintings meditating on the theme of the passion of Christ and his subsequent Resurrection which would all be appropriate. So it is really a case of being spoilt for choice.

Luckily this morning in the attempt to do something constructive with my weekend off work I watched the second part of BBC Fours Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork documentary series available on BBC iPlayer. This episode (the second of three) focused upon the life and work of the eminent wood carver and sculptor Grinling Gibbons.

It included this crucifixion which was the work that legend has it helped kick start his phenomenal career. It threw him in the way of the influential diarist Evelyn who wrote… "I saw the young man at his carving, by the light of a candle. I saw him to be engaged on a carved representation of Tintoretto's "Crucifixion", which he had in a frame of his own making." Evelyn in turn helped introduce him into the circles where his work could receive prestigious commissions.

 Crucifixion by Grinling Gibbons

The crucifixion wood carving is currently housed in Dunham Massey Cheshire and was completed by the artist at the tender age of 19. As Evelyn points out it is based upon this work by Jacopo Tintoretto in la Scuola di San Rocco in Venice. Both artists have attempted to represent chaotic scene of the crucifixion with the Vigin mary swooning in the foreground clouds darkening the sky in the background and the bodies of the two other men crucified alongside Christ being taken down amidst soldiers, onlookers, tools and horses.

Jacopo Tintoretto Crucifixion

Gibbons entire work is carved from a single piece of limewood. Unusual as the sculptor became particularly famous for his ability to create large scale works formed by the joining of lots of small pieces, a technique that allowed him to create some of his most spectacular and breath takingly detailed works.


Redos at St James Piccadilly by Grinling Gibbons

Some of which are even located in London such as the incredible work in St Pauls Cathedral, his carvings at Windsor Castle, the Orangery in Kensington and the church of St James Piccadilly. To name but a few.

Tonight the third part of this series will be shown on BBC four from 8 o’clock until 9 o’clock.

Thursday 28 March 2013

Big Egg Hunt 2013: The Auction

Unfortunately I have been pretty busy this week and have been unable to volunteer for Action for Children at the Big Egg Hunt this time around. Hopefully I will be able to slip a couple of days in before it finishes on the 7th. However, I have been following its progress with interest since week one and can wholeheartedly recommend taking a trip to Covent Garden to join in the hunt. At a donation of £3 per hunt pack it's a great way to spend the Easter weekend.

If you have decided to hibernate until warmer weather reaches these shores (and frankly who could blame you) but you are feeling mightily generous then why not take a look at the online egg auction. The action is begining to hot up!

Currently only one egg has sold and it is this stunning egg by Yuki Aruga. On its first visit to London's Covent Garden it was hidden away in Links as you can see in the image. I saw it again today in its new home in the Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden. A little post about spas and art will follow soon.....



This egg went for a whopping £7000 which is fantastic as it will make an incredible difference to lots of lives.

So all the rest are still up for grabs. To be honest some of my favourite eggs have yet to be bid for so still lots of gems to be snapped up.

The top 15 most popular at 7.30pm on 28th March are:

1. Yoni (ova 1) Michael Petry – £2500

2. Lindor by Lindt – £1500 


3. Ben 10 “Inside the Omnitrix” by Cartoon Network – £1500



4. Adventure Time “Bro Hug” by Cartoon Network – £1500

5. Humpty Dumpty £1500

6. Anticipation of a Thousand Moments Anna Barlow – £1300

7. Dora the Explorer by Nick Jr - £900

8. Golden James Joyce – £800



9. Peter Rabbit by Penguin - £800

10. Thomas &Friends by HIT Entertainment Limited - £800

11. Lion Estate Frank Laws – £700

12. A Thousand Forests Matthew Dent – £700



13. Spongebob SquarePants by Nicktoons - £700

14. Tie Dye Egg Lindsey Bull – £600

15. All Aboard by Network Rail – £600


But with 10 days to go on the auction and lots of eggs yet to get off the starting blocks I'm sure this will all change soon.