Panel from the Palace of Westminster 1842 - 1852

This wooden panel was made for the Palace of Westminster by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin at an unknown date. Pugin was an English architect, designer, artist, and critic, best remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival style. In the 1830s the Palace of Westminster was rebuilt, and Pugin was responsible for many of its interior details. Pugin believed that Gothic architecture was the only true Christian form and was suited to the serious business of government. By using Gothic designs in the Palace of Westminster, Pugin sought to connect the British government with the supposedly superior moral values of the medieval era. Note the simple vertical lines and pointed arches - these are key motifs of the Gothic Revival. As art historians, we can look at the design books Pugin published to see how the design of this panel fitted into his broader project. Pugin sought to make a connection between art, morality, and national identity. The art itself becomes part of the story of British political institutions.