A.W.N. Pugin, Wallpaper, ca. 1840-1844

The great Gothic revivalist Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin had a long, illustrious name and a short, illustrious life. I watched an engrossing BBC 4 documentary about his life last night and although his buildings (including Big Ben and much of Westminster) were mind-blowing works of art, I wanted to post a picture of his garish, complex wallpaper that dominated the hallway to his own (self-designed) house. Although he was shy of blowing his own trumpet, professionally, in his own home, he created a monument to his skills and talent – his design features a black bird from his own coat of arms and his motto, ‘en avant’ – ‘move forward’!