The Beverley Minster, Yorkshire, England, Perspective View of the West Facade 1850s

Charles Wickes made this drawing of the Beverley Minster in Yorkshire, England, around 1853, using graphite on paper. Architectural drawings like this served an important function in 19th century England. Wickes meticulously depicts the Minster's West Facade, a prime example of Gothic architecture. In the Victorian era, there was a renewed interest in the medieval past, fueled by Romanticism and the Gothic Revival movement. Drawings of cathedrals and abbeys weren't just records, they were ways of connecting to a perceived golden age, a time of faith and craftsmanship. They also reflected England's established church. The drawing allows us to consider how religious institutions used art and architecture to shape national identity. To understand it better, we can look at publications from the era, architectural treatises, and the history of the Minster itself. By studying these things, we can appreciate the social and institutional context that gave this image meaning.