Gibbons was a Rotterdam-born wood carver who in 1671 was discovered by John Evelyn doing a wooden replica of Tintoretto’s ‘Crucifixion’ at Deptford. Evelyn showed the work to Christopher Wren and Samuel Pepys and later to the royal family.
Gibbons was employed by Wren to do the choir stalls at St Paul’s Cathedral and work in other London churches. Examples may be seen in St Mary Abchurch and St Clement Danes. He was the most skilful wood carver of his age, producing pieces for Kings College Chapel at Cambridge and several royal palaces. He is buried in St Paul’s, Covent Garden.