Travel sketch, detail of the Houses of Parliament

This wispy blue sketch by Pierre Cuypers represents a way of life. Cuypers travelled a lot to gain knowledge and inspiration, which he employed both creatively and architecturally. Because of his passion for the Gothic Revival, his interest was primarily drawn to this architectural style, as demonstrated by this sketch of the famous Houses of Parliament in London. And anyone wondering about the other places that Cuypers visited in London can guess the answer: St Pancras Station. Having recently won the commission for Amsterdam’s Central Station, he surveyed the single-span roof of its train shed, at that time the world’s largest.