Page from a Scrapbook containing Drawings and Several Prints of Architecture, Interiors, Furniture and Other Objects 1795 - 1805

This page from a scrapbook, filled with drawings and prints of architecture, interiors, furniture, and other objects, was made by Charles Percier in the late 18th or early 19th century. Percier lived through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, a time of great upheaval and transformation in French society. The meticulous detail in his drawings and prints reflects a desire to impose order and structure onto a world in flux. Think of it as the rational Enlightenment ideals meeting the grandiose aspirations of the Empire style. Look closely, and you'll notice how the architectural elements emphasize symmetry, balance, and classical motifs, mirroring the era's fascination with ancient Greece and Rome. Percier's work represents the aesthetic values of a society grappling with its identity, seeking stability and legitimacy through historical references. The scrapbook page embodies the personal and societal quest for harmony and refinement amidst the chaos of history.