Study for Lambeth Palace, from Microcosm of London c. 1808

Augustus Charles Pugin made this pencil study for Lambeth Palace as part of his broader project, Microcosm of London. This was published between 1808 and 1811, along with Thomas Rowlandson, as a series of aquatints. Pugin's detailed rendering of the Palace interior, with its gothic arches, captures the architectural grandeur associated with religious authority. The figures within the scene, though lightly sketched, suggest a social hierarchy and activity within this institutional space. Produced in the early 19th century, at a time of significant social and political change in England, the image reflects a fascination with historical architecture and institutions. The choice of Lambeth Palace, the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, speaks to the enduring influence of the Church of England within British society. Examining the broader Microcosm project alongside works by social commentators, we can better understand the complex relationship between institutions and the public.