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, was created by Charles Percier, sometime before 1838. It's a collection of architectural and design ideas rendered in pencil and ink, and assembled in a bound volume. Percier was one of the leading architects and designers of the Napoleonic era, and a key figure in the development of the Empire style. These scrapbook pages offer a rare glimpse into his working methods, and the ways in which he combined different sources of inspiration. The drawings themselves are fascinating for the way they reveal Percier's design process. We see his interest in classical forms, but also his willingness to experiment with new ideas and motifs. Look at the incredible amount of labor and skill represented here, a testament to the culture of artisanal knowledge that underpinned even the most avant-garde designs. By studying these drawings, we gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of craft, design, and materiality in understanding the full meaning of Percier's work.