Detail of carved festoon in drawing room (attributed to Grinling Gibbons). Digital image of ML 2147 PO.

Description Detail of carved festoon in drawing room (attributed to Grinling Gibbons). Digital image of ML 2147 PO.

Date 1971

Catalogue Number SC 772344

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of ML 2147 PO

Scope and Content Woodcarving in the dining room of Newbattle Abbey House, Midlothian This shows an intricate carving of a black grouse, fruits and flowers attributed to the master woodcarver Grinling Gibbons (1648-1720). A Corinthian pilaster is set into the panelling to the left. Images of fruits, flowers and game were popular painted or sculptured decorations in dining rooms as they suggest wealth, plenty and an abundance of food. This room contains several panels of delicate woodcarvings attributed to Gibbons. The festoons around the fireplace are in a similar style, but it is thought that these were completed by the estate carpenter at a later date in imitation of the style of the master woodcarver. Newbattle Abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in 1140, and its church dedicated to St Mary in 1233-4. It became a private residence in 1587 when the last abbot, Mark Kerr, converted to Protestantism and was able to retain his lands. His son became Lord Newbattle in 1596. The remains of the abbey are built into the surviving house, which was modified and rebuilt by the architects John Mylne (1650), William Burn (1836) and David Bryce (1858). The house was gifted to the nation in 1937 to be used as a further education college. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/772344

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap