Study for Herald's College, The Hall, from Microcosm of London c. 1808

Augustus Charles Pugin created this sketch, "Study for Herald's College, The Hall, from Microcosm of London," to capture a world steeped in tradition. Imagine London, a nucleus of power, its identity carved by the heralds who once stood as gatekeepers of lineage and status. Here, we glimpse the choreography of social hierarchy, the very architecture reflecting the rigid structure of class. Pugin’s sketch is not just about a place; it is about the performance of identity. Note the composition – the assembly, the figures gazing upwards, all under the watchful eyes of those in the balcony. What stories might these coats of arms tell? What power do these symbols wield? Pugin invites us to reflect on the relationship between identity, representation, and the spaces that define us. The work serves as a meditation on the visible and invisible forces shaping societal roles.