Design for the frontispiece of the second volume of 'Examples of Gothic Architecture'
Design
1834 (made), 1836 (published)
1834 (made), 1836 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The design follows this engraving exactly except for the lack of the lettering 'T.T. Bury sculpt'. It took two years after this design was drawn to publish the book because Pugin had difficulty getting E. J. Willson to write the text. In the preface to the book he described this frontispiece as 'This composition represents an artist of the fifteenth century seated in his study amidst his books and drawings making an architectural design. The furniture of the room is altogether agreeable to the fashions of the supposed period; and the inscriptions, and other ornaments of the border, are also designed in corresponding style'.
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) is widely considered as one of the most significant and influential architects, designers and theorists of the 19th century. Following his conversion to Catholicism in 1835, he identified the Gothic style with Christian architecture and his work and writings inspired and framed the Gothic Revival. In ‘Contrasts’, published in 1836, he condemned classical forms and ardently praised 14th and 15th-century architecture. Pugin is best remembered for his work on the Palace of Westminster.
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) is widely considered as one of the most significant and influential architects, designers and theorists of the 19th century. Following his conversion to Catholicism in 1835, he identified the Gothic style with Christian architecture and his work and writings inspired and framed the Gothic Revival. In ‘Contrasts’, published in 1836, he condemned classical forms and ardently praised 14th and 15th-century architecture. Pugin is best remembered for his work on the Palace of Westminster.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Design for the frontispiece of the second volume of 'Examples of Gothic Architecture' (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pen with red and black ink. |
| Brief description | Design for the frontispiece of the second volume of 'Examples of Gothic Architecture (A.C. Pugin and A.W.N. Pugin, London, 1840), by A.W.N. Pugin. Pen with red and black ink, 1836. One of 113 leaves from various sketchbooks with topographical drawings, juvenilia, designs for ornament, sketches of architecture and metalwork. c. 1839-52. Predominantly using pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour. |
| Physical description | An architect sat at his desk in a Northern European Renaissance setting. Books on Gothic architecture are positioned behind the figure. The room is decorated extensively in the Gothic style, with stained glass windows at the left and a view of a turret. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | This book was begun in the year of our Lord God one thousand, eight hundred and thirty one by Augustus Pugin, architect, and completed by his son Augustus Welby Pugin architect anno domini I thousand VIII hundred and XXXIV; Examples of Gothic Architecture / Second Series; The Literary Part / by E. J. Wilson, architect; London published for the author Augustus Welby Pugin at Messrs./ Walker & Ferry's, 100 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury; s. A.W. Pugin invenit. (Inscribed in a scroll around the edge.) |
| Object history | Prov.: M. Purcell, 1970. The engraving follows the design exactly except for the lack of the lettering T.T. Bury sculpt. The drawing is dated 1834 whereas the book was not published until 1836 because Pugin had the greatest difficulty in getting E J Wilson to write the text. In the preface to the book, which he wrote at St. Marie's Grange, Salisbury in July 1836, Pugin described his frontispiece thus: "This composition represents an artist of the fifteenth century seated in his study amidst his books and drawings making an architectural design. The furniture of the room is altogether agreeable to the fashions of the supposed period; and the inscriptions, and other ornaments of the border, are also designed in a corresponding style'. |
| Summary | The design follows this engraving exactly except for the lack of the lettering 'T.T. Bury sculpt'. It took two years after this design was drawn to publish the book because Pugin had difficulty getting E. J. Willson to write the text. In the preface to the book he described this frontispiece as 'This composition represents an artist of the fifteenth century seated in his study amidst his books and drawings making an architectural design. The furniture of the room is altogether agreeable to the fashions of the supposed period; and the inscriptions, and other ornaments of the border, are also designed in corresponding style'. Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) is widely considered as one of the most significant and influential architects, designers and theorists of the 19th century. Following his conversion to Catholicism in 1835, he identified the Gothic style with Christian architecture and his work and writings inspired and framed the Gothic Revival. In ‘Contrasts’, published in 1836, he condemned classical forms and ardently praised 14th and 15th-century architecture. Pugin is best remembered for his work on the Palace of Westminster. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.77:82-1970 |
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| Record created | June 8, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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