Art Funded by you

New Tower Cardiff Castle

William Burges, Axel Herman Haig, 1870

The Victorian architect William Burgess rebuilt Cardiff castle in a Gothic Revival style between 1869 and 1881. This watercolour of the New Tower shows his concept for the earliest part of the scheme to be undertaken. The tower caused an architectural sensation at the time, with its extraordinary use of gilding and polychrome decoration, particularly on the over life-sized stone statues of the Planets which dominate the upper storey. The tower is seen from the castle green and is a unique record of Burges's unexecuted plan for landscaping. The painting itself is attributed to Axel Haig, an architectural artist, whose dramatic and extensively reproduced works earned him the title of the 'Piranesi of the Gothic revival'. The restoration of the Clock Tower exterior during 2004-5 saw the reinstatement of Burges's original decorative scheme.

More information

Title of artwork, date

New Tower Cardiff Castle, 1870

Date supported

2006

Medium and material

Watercolour

Dimensions

71 x 50 cm

Grant

5000

Total cost

32500

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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