pugin

These watercolours and drawings from the early 1800s capture landscapes, buildings, and streets in crisp, exacting lines. You’ll see a 1819 view of a town, a circa-1804 sketch of fields, and a 1821 study of waterfront houses, all labeled “Topographical drawing,” meaning they record places as they were. Turn to any page and you’ll land on a precise street corner or shoreline scene that looks ready for a civic survey. Tap any one to step into the early 19th-century street you’re looking at.