Plan for a Menagerie 1778 - 1788

Charles Percier rendered this "Plan for a Menagerie" in ink and watercolor wash on paper. It is organized around a strong central square, immediately creating a sense of balance and order. The cooler blues of the water features contrast with the warm yellows of the open space, drawing the eye across the plan. Percier’s composition employs a formal, almost classical symmetry. This echoes the architectural designs of his time, steeped in the Neoclassical revival. The plan is not merely a functional layout; it's an exercise in spatial relations and controlled perspective. The symmetry suggests an environment where nature is brought under formal control and where the organization of space becomes a cultural statement. Consider how this architectural drawing represents more than just physical space. It embodies the era’s drive to structure and classify the world. Through the geometric precision and the ordered layout, Percier's plan reflects a specific approach to understanding and controlling nature.