Wallpaper design for Palace of Westminster thumbnail 1
Request to view

This object can be requested via email from the Prints & Drawings Study Room

Wallpaper design for Palace of Westminster

Design Drawing
1851 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
A. W. N. Pugin created this design for a wallpaper for the Palace of Westminster but it was never produced as a finished printed paper. He used bright primary colours and simple regular repeat patterns in his wallpapers, which is clearly visible here. This design is very clearly drawn to show one repeat of the pattern.

Place
Pugin was in charge of decorative furnishings for the Houses of Parliament in London, known at the time as the New Palace of Westminster. This is the design for one of over 100 wallpapers that Pugin created for the Houses of Parliament. It was part of a group of papers that introduced badges and symbols connected with the history of the building. The white hart or stag was the badge of Richard II and the gold cross and birds on a blue background was the emblem associated with Edward the Confessor. The stag and the 'R' were used in designs for tiles for the lobby between Westminster Hall and the Members' Entrance.

Design & Designing
Pugin's many wallpapers were important and influenced other wallpaper designers at the time. This design is typical of Pugin's designs in its use of heraldic emblems. Where possible Pugin used elements he found in original medieval designs. Although this paper was never produced, the design was probably adapted by Pugin for another wallpaper.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWallpaper design for Palace of Westminster
Materials and techniques
Pencil with blue, red, brown, yellow, green and pink washes on paper.
Brief description
A.W.N. Pugin, Design for Wallpaper for Palace of Westminster
Physical description
Full-size design for wallpaper incorporating the badges of Richard II with a white hart ducally gorged and chained or, the arms of Edward the Confessor and the initial R set between two seed pods. The badges are connected by a decorative framework of ogee stems and leaves.
Dimensions
  • Height: 62.2cm
  • Width: 53.4cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 10/10/2000 by PaperCons Estimated framed dimensions previously given as 86.8 x 64
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
26 DESIGN FOR A WALLPAPER
1851
A.W.N. Pugin had the wonderful ability to give life to heraldic motifs. To see his skill, look at the stag in this design. The unusal colour combinations and the framework of arches are typical of Pugin’s designs. The symbols represent Edward the Confessor and Richard II – kings connected with the history of the building.
Pencil and wash on paper
Designed by A.W.N. Pugin (born in London, 1812, died in Ramsgate, Kent, 1852)
Museum no. D.733-1908
Object history
Designed by A. W. N. Pugin (born in London, 1812, died in Ramsgate, Kent, 1852)
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
Object Type
A. W. N. Pugin created this design for a wallpaper for the Palace of Westminster but it was never produced as a finished printed paper. He used bright primary colours and simple regular repeat patterns in his wallpapers, which is clearly visible here. This design is very clearly drawn to show one repeat of the pattern.

Place
Pugin was in charge of decorative furnishings for the Houses of Parliament in London, known at the time as the New Palace of Westminster. This is the design for one of over 100 wallpapers that Pugin created for the Houses of Parliament. It was part of a group of papers that introduced badges and symbols connected with the history of the building. The white hart or stag was the badge of Richard II and the gold cross and birds on a blue background was the emblem associated with Edward the Confessor. The stag and the 'R' were used in designs for tiles for the lobby between Westminster Hall and the Members' Entrance.

Design & Designing
Pugin's many wallpapers were important and influenced other wallpaper designers at the time. This design is typical of Pugin's designs in its use of heraldic emblems. Where possible Pugin used elements he found in original medieval designs. Although this paper was never produced, the design was probably adapted by Pugin for another wallpaper.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Alexandra Wedgwood, A.W.N. Pugin and the Pugin Family , London; V&A, 1985, p. 225.
  • Hewitson, Madeline (Author)(Editor) Ribeyrol, Charlotte (Author)(Editor) Winterbottom, Matthew (Author)(Editor) Ashmolean Museum (Host institution) Colour revolution: Victorian art, fashion & design Oxford: Ashmolean Museum, 2023. 238 pages: illustrated. ISBN: 9781910807576.
Collection
Accession number
D.733-1908

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest