Book Review: Pugin

Pugin, by Paul Atterbury and Clive Wainwright, is a collection of essays meant to accompany a 1994 exhibit at the V&A Museum in London.

A Master of Gothic Revival

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, or AWN Pugin, is considered one of Britain’s most prolific and famous architects and designer of the 19th-century. He rejected the popular Georgian designs of his era and preached and practiced the idea that medieval principals were superior and more aligned with his Catholic faith.

Architect, Designer, Illustrator…

This book contains chapters, each highlighting a specialty of his in terms of materials or disciplines. For example, there are chapters on Ceramics, Textiles, Brass and Monuments, Stained Glass, Jewelery, Metalwork, Wallpaper, Furniture, Book Design and Production. There are chapters on Architecture and Writing and additional text on some of his most famous building examples, such as The New Palace of Westminster.

A handful of different chapter authors who are specialists in their related field give detailed thoughts and descriptions of Pugin’s work and there are many beautiful photographs of his work included.

Banqueting Hall, Lismore Castle in Ireland.

Historic Fantasy…

Pugin’s designs are very theatrical, what I mean by that is that they are the epitome of what you imagine a royal sort of Medieval design would look like. Everything is very regal and heraldic symbols abound. This is what 19th-century Gothic Revival looks like, sometimes also called Neo-Gothic.

Pugin was both an Antiquarian and Collector and there is a chapter devoted to this. He grew up amongst art and design, his father having architectural and publishing ventures and they lived just 50 yards away from the British Museum (so lucky!).

A Total Design Approach…

Pugin was one of those creative types that liked to direct the whole picture, so to speak. He did everything from design buildings, to design the wallpaper, furniture, stained glass - even the textiles. Much of it relating to religion.

This book is an excellent review of his life’s work and the many areas of design in which he mastered. He was similar to another famed Victorian, William Morris, who also believed in a ‘total design’ approach. The difference was that Morris eschewed technology while Pugin embraced it.

Suffice it to say, if you are someone who is interested in Gothic Revival design, this is a must-have book.
I’m going to keep this review short as I will have separate posts on Pugin outside of this book upcoming.

You can do a search for books on Pugin on many online sites as well as on eBay. Some are not still in print; I found this one eBay.