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

This is a page from a scrapbook by Charles Percier, dating from the late 18th to early 19th century, showcasing drawings and prints of architecture, interiors, furniture, and other objects. Percier's work emerged during a transformative period in France, marked by the French Revolution and the subsequent rise of Napoleon. As a leading architect and designer, Percier significantly shaped the visual culture of the era, embodying the aspirations and values of the French elite. His designs reflected the period’s fascination with classical antiquity, which served to legitimize the new political order, associating it with the perceived grandeur and stability of ancient empires. Yet, this neo-classicism often masked the turbulent undercurrents of a society grappling with profound social and political change. Percier's scrapbook offers insights into how aesthetics were deployed to negotiate identity, power and the construction of cultural narratives during this period. How does the architectural design reflect the society of the time?