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

This page of collected drawings and prints was compiled by Charles Percier, a French architect and designer active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here, we see a collection of architectural and ornamental motifs, common to classical design, like palmettes, rosettes, and stylized foliage. Observe how Percier employs the anthemion motif, derived from the honeysuckle flower. It appears in friezes and decorative panels, symbolizing prosperity and rebirth, and it also connects to ancient Greek and Roman art, where similar designs adorned temples and public buildings. Consider how this motif, rooted in the natural world, has been stylized and abstracted over centuries. These shapes trigger a shared cultural memory, resonating with subconscious associations of harmony and order. The recurrence of classical motifs throughout history is not merely aesthetic; it reflects a deeper human desire to connect with the past and find stability in enduring forms. This scrapbook page shows how symbols are vessels of cultural memory, constantly evolving and re-emerging to shape our visual world.