A vibrant illustrated history of Grinling Gibbons, the master carver of the Restoration era.

Master Carver Grinling Gibbons (1648 - 1721) possessed an incredible ability to breathe life into still material and his wooden masterpieces are still celebrated today.

Carefully carved cascades of fruit and flowers, puffy-cheeked cherubs, crowds of figures, and flourishes of architecture all formed part of the tumultuous world of pure energy and animation which flowed from his hands to grace stately homes and palaces across the country. His work can be found in some of Britain's most beloved buildings, including St Paul's Cathedral and Hampton Court Palace.

From his birth in Rotterdam to his "discovery" by the diarist John Evelyn in London, and his meteoric rise to become Master Carver for five monarchs, this book celebrates Grinling Gibbons' unequaled talent, his visionary genius, and his ability to transform humble pieces of wood into some of the most exquisite artworks of his day.