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, filled with drawings and prints of architecture, interiors, furniture, and other objects. Percier lived and worked in France during a transformative period of its history. The designs here reflect the Neoclassical style, which was popular in France at the time, and was associated with the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. Visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations contribute to the image's meaning. The clean lines and geometric shapes were seen as a symbol of reason and order, virtues that were highly valued in the new French Republic. Percier's designs also reflect the influence of ancient Greece and Rome, cultures that were admired for their democratic ideals and artistic achievements. Historians like myself look at the social conditions that shape artistic production. By studying the historical context in which Percier created this scrapbook, including the institutions of art and design in which he worked, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ideas and values that shaped his work.