William Holder contract with Grinling Gibbons(1696 January 15)

• MS 2001.17 (1X)
• 1 item

Articles of agreement between Holder, residentiary of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s London and Gibbons, statuary of the Parish of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden “to make a monument of white marble… firmly fixed and sett up at his own charge in the place appointed or that shall be appointed by Sir Christopher Wren… in the vaults under the quires of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s…” The agreement is signed by Gibbons and bears his stamp. The document is not signed by Holder.

Grinling Gibbons (1648–1720) was a statuary and woodcarver from Rotterdam. He worked at St. Paul’s Cathedral under Sir Christopher Wren. Wren employed Gibbons at several other churches and at his new library at Trinity College, Cambridge. Gibbons work adorns many of the houses of the nobility built during his career. He served as master-carver in wood to the crown from the time of Charles II to that of George I. William Holder (1616–1698), divine, was known for his work on deafness. He served as one of the canons residentiary of St. Paul’s Cathedral. His wife was Susanna, the sister of Sir Christopher Wren. He was buried in the undercroft of St. Paul’s where there is a monument to his memory.

• View Virginia Heritage Project finding aid