Study for The Mint, from Microcosm of London (recto); Sketch of Courtyard (verso) c. 1809

Augustus Charles Pugin’s “Study for The Mint, from Microcosm of London (recto); Sketch of Courtyard (verso)” (c. 1809) is a graphite drawing that depicts a bustling interior scene. The drawing, which serves as a study for a larger work, portrays a room filled with figures, likely workers at a mint, engaged in their daily tasks. Pugin's meticulous attention to detail and skillful use of line capture the atmosphere of a busy workshop, highlighting the importance of such places in early 19th-century London. The drawing provides a glimpse into the daily life of working-class individuals during this period. It is now part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.