Panel from the Palace of Westminster 1842 - 1852

This wooden panel formed part of the decorative scheme of the Palace of Westminster, designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. As part of the Gothic Revival movement, Pugin sought to revive medieval craftsmanship in response to industrialization. Imagine this panel as part of a larger narrative. Pugin's vision went beyond aesthetics; it was about shaping a national identity. The Gothic style was associated with morality and social order. What did it mean to revive this style in the heart of British politics? The choice of oak, the handcrafted details, even the placement of this panel within the Palace, speaks to the values Pugin wished to embed within the British government. By embracing a specific vision of the past, Pugin was trying to shape the future, intertwining aesthetics, politics, and national identity.