Study for Whitehall Chapel, from Microcosm of London c. 1809

This study of Whitehall Chapel was drawn by Augustus Charles Pugin as part of his work on the 'Microcosm of London'. Pugin uses ink and graphite in a simple but skilled way. With the quick strokes of his pen, Pugin captures not just the look of the chapel, but also the atmosphere of London, during a time of huge economic change and expansion. Look closely, and you can see the marks of the artist’s hand, the graphite under-drawing that structures the space and the crisp ink lines that define the architectural forms. It’s a drawing about skill, but also about labour, a carefully constructed image of a society marked by industrial progress, and the huge collective effort it took to produce. By focusing on these qualities, on the making of the artwork, and the ways in which it reflects broader social themes, we move beyond traditional art history, appreciating how craft, design, and materiality, shape our understanding of the world.