Study for View of London from the Thames
c. 1809
Medium
Graphite on cream wove paper
Dimensions
18.7 × 26.1 cm (7 3/8 × 10 5/16 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
113121
Art Historical Context
Augustus Charles Pugin’s *Study for View of London from the Thames* offers a glimpse into early nineteenth-century artistic preparation. Created around 1809 in graphite on cream wove paper, this compact drawing measures just 18.7 by 26.1 centimeters. As a working study rather than a finished piece, it reveals the careful observation and precise line work Pugin employed to capture London’s riverfront skyline and bustling waterway. Pugin, a French-born draftsman and architect who settled in Britain, specialized in topographical views that documented the nation’s cities and monuments. Graphite’s...
About the Artist
Augustus Charles Pugin · 1762–1832
Augustus Charles Pugin (1762–1832) was a pioneering architectural draughtsman and engraver whose meticulous illustrations played a pivotal role in reviving interest in Britain's medieval Gothic heritage. Born in France, Pugin relocated to London around 1792, where he quickly established himself as a master of topographical and architectural rendering. Working primarily in engraving and watercolor,...