Charles Percier

Handsomely designed and richly illustrated, this publication surveys the magnificent spectrum of projects undertaken by French architect and interior designer Charles Percier (1764-1838). After gaining an illustrious reputation for supervising the scenery at the Paris Opera during the French Revolution, Percier was later appointed by Napoleon Bonaparte. With the Emperor's support, he developed the opulent versions of neoclassicism closely associated with the Napoleonic era, and now known as Directoire style and Empire style. Percier worked on the renovation or redecoration of many of France's royal palaces, including the Louvre, the Tuileries, and the chateaux of Malmaison, Saint-Cloud, and Fontainebleau. The full scope and variety of Percier's design projects are revealed in this book, which also includes archival material detailing Percier's relationships with patrons and peers.