Architectural Drawing of the Exterior of the Comte de Nieuwerkerke's House 1845 - 1895

Hector-Martin Lefuel created this architectural drawing of the exterior of the Comte de Nieuwerkerke's house in the 19th century. The drawing provides us with a window into the world of the Parisian elite. Lefuel, as the architect of Napoleon III, designed for a social class that flaunted its wealth and status through grand architectural statements. The Comte de Nieuwerkerke, Superintendent of Fine Arts under Napoleon III, was at the epicenter of cultural power. This drawing captures the tastes and values of those who shaped French society and its arts. The drawing isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it's about identity. It gives an understanding of the aesthetic values of its commissioner and the socio-economic status he held in society. It's a portrait of a moment when art, power, and personal identity converged in the heart of Paris.