David Esterly facts for kids
David Esterly (born May 10, 1944 – died June 15, 2019) was a talented American artist. He was famous for carving wood, especially a type called limewood. David Esterly created sculptures that looked very real, often in a style called "high-relief." He was inspired by a famous British carver named Grinling Gibbons.
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David Esterly's Early Life and Inspiration
David Esterly was born in Akron, Ohio. He grew up in Orange County, California. He went to Harvard and Cambridge universities. There, he studied English literature.
However, David decided not to become a professor. In 1974, he saw a beautiful wood carving by Grinling Gibbons. It was behind the altar at St. James, Piccadilly in London. This carving amazed him and changed his life. He decided to become a woodcarver.
David moved to a small cottage in Sussex, England. He taught himself how to carve wood. He learned the "high-relief" style, which makes carvings stand out from the background. This was the same style used by Grinling Gibbons.
Restoring History: The Hampton Court Fire
In 1986, a fire damaged Hampton Court. This historic palace had many famous carvings by Grinling Gibbons. One seven-foot-long carving was destroyed.
David Esterly spent a whole year re-carving this lost piece. It was a huge and important project. This experience inspired him to write a book. It was called The Lost Carving: A Journey to the Heart of Making.
In 1998, David helped create an art show about Grinling Gibbons. This show was at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He also wrote a book called Grinling Gibbons and the Art of Carving. People loved his book because it showed how much he understood Gibbons's work.
David Esterly's Unique Art Style
At first, David Esterly carved decorative plants and leaves. But his art changed over time. He started making sculptures that looked like still life paintings. These often featured objects arranged together.
He also created unique "botanical heads." These sculptures looked like faces made from plants and flowers. He started making these in 2002 while he was a guest artist in Rome.
David made carvings for people in the United States, Britain, and Europe. His art was shown in special exhibitions in 2013. These shows were in New York City and Utica, NY.
Personal Life and Legacy
David Esterly was married to Marietta von Bernuth. They lived in a quiet village called Barneveld in upstate New York.
In 2019, David shared that he had been diagnosed with ALS. This is a serious illness that affects muscles. Even with his illness, he kept working. With help from assistants, he finished his last big artwork. It was for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
David Esterly passed away at his home in Barneveld on June 15, 2019. He was 74 years old. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and detailed wood carvings.
Images for kids
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A musical trophy carved from limewood, 2004.
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A unique botanical head sculpture, 2005.
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A detailed section of an overmantel carving, 2007.
