Decorative paneling from the Palace of Westminster
ca. 1845–59
Medium
Oak
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 23 13/16 × 12 1/8 × 5/8 in. (60.5 × 30.8 × 1.6 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Architectural
Culture
British
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The James Parker Charitable Foundation and Friends of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gifts, and funds from various donors, 2015
Accession Number
2015.670
Art Historical Context
This exquisite oak decorative paneling hails from the rebuilt Palace of Westminster, the seat of Britain's Parliament, designed by Augustusby Northmore Pugin around 1845–59. Following the devastating fire of 1834 that destroyed of the original medieval palace, Pugin collaborated with architect Charles Barry to create a grand Gothic Revival masterpiece. This panel, measuring about 24 by 12 inches, exemplifies the intricate wood that adorned the opulent interiors, blending functionality with splendor. Pugin, a fervent advocate of the Gothic Revival movement, championed medieval-inspired designs...
About the Artist
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin · 1812–1852
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812–1852) was a British architect, designer, and theorist whose fervent advocacy for Gothic architecture transformed Victorian Britain's built environment and established the intellectual foundations of the Gothic Revival movement. Born in London to the French architect and draughtsman Auguste Charles Pugin, he showed exceptional talent from childhood, producing de...