Study for King's Mews, Charing Cross, from Microcosm of London c. 1808

Augustus Charles Pugin sketched this study for King's Mews, Charing Cross, using graphite on paper. The architecture is marked by the rhythm of arches and columns. This design choice echoes grand Roman basilicas, spaces meant to impress with their scale and convey power. The architectural style is not just about aesthetics; it evokes authority, linking the monarchy to the enduring legacy of empires. The hanging chandeliers in this sketch bring to mind the sacred lamps of temples. The presence of horses, symbols of nobility and strength, reminds us of their roles in war and peace. The very act of sketching, of capturing these images, is itself a ritual. It is like an unconscious drive to preserve and understand the symbols of our world. It speaks to the deep, subconscious desires and fears that shape our cultural expressions. This space echoes through history, its symbols and spaces resurfacing in new forms, each time adapted and reimagined, yet forever connected.