A Closer Look: The Mysteries of a 17th-Century Carved Limewood Panel

In 2024, we acquired a carved panel by the celebrated English Baroque woodcarver Grinling Gibbons, known as the “Michelangelo of woodcarving.” It is one of only three works by Gibbons in an American museum collection. While investigations, research, and conservation work on the piece continue, this joint lecture with David Oakey, curator in charge of European decorative arts and sculpture, and Linda Lin, objects conservator, is a chance to discuss the many discoveries and insights that have been revealed in the two years since the panel’s arrival in San Francisco.

This lecture will be recorded and available to watch on this web page after the event.

About the speakers

Linda Y. Lin is an objects conservator at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, where she works on three-dimensional works of art. Before joining FAMSF in 2023, she held positions at Shangri La in Honolulu, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and the Newark Museum in New Jersey, and was an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in objects conservation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

David Oakey is curator in charge of European decorative arts and sculpture at the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco. He began his career at the British Royal Collection before serving as Director of Research for a leading New York art and antiques dealership and later as a curator for a major private art collection. He holds degrees from University College London and Buckingham University, and is currently completing a part-time PhD at Cambridge University. A fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a trustee of the Furniture History Society, he has lectured internationally and published widely on decorative arts and historic interiors.

About the “A Closer Look” series

This program is part of our “A Closer Look” series, a curatorial lecture series exploring the development of our collections and their art historical significance. The series features in-depth presentations that highlight collection gems while demystifying creative practices that span thousands of years.

Pictured: Grinling Gibbons (Dutch, 1648–1721), Panel of carved limewood (The Adrian Panel), ca. 1690. Carved limewood, 74 1/2 x 53 x 9 1/2 in. (189.23 x 134.62 x 24.13 cm). Fine Art Museums of San Francisco, museum purchase, Roscoe and Margaret Oakes Endowment and gift of Diane B. Wilsey; Roger Thomas and Arthur Libera; Margareta and Staffan Encrantz; Philip and Jamie Bowles; Ray and Dagmar Dolby Fund; John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn; Joan Gamble; Barbara A. Wolfe; Lucy Young Hamilton; Robert Domergue; David Fraze and Gary Loeb, and additional donors in honor of Martin Chapman, 2024.75. Composite of photography by Randy Dodson (left) and radiography by Linda Lin (right).