thumb|215px|Charles Percier. Portrait by<br /> [[Robert Lefèvre (1807)]]

Charles Percier (; 22 August 1764 – 5 September 1838) was a neoclassical French architect, interior decorator and designer, who worked in a close partnership with Pierre François Léonard Fontaine, originally his friend from student days. For work undertaken from 1794 onward, trying to ascribe conceptions or details to one or other of them is fruitless; it is impossible to disentangle their cooperative efforts in this fashion. Together, Percier and Fontaine were inventors and major proponents of the rich, grand, consciously-archaeological versions of neoclassicism we recognise as Directoire style and Empire style.

Biography

thumb|200px|left|View of a Roman House (watercolor)

Percier was born into a poor Parisian family in 1764. His mother was a laundry woman for Marie-Antoinette and his father was a porter at one of the gates of the Tuileries Palace, who was later promoted into a post in the interior of the palace. After passing a short time in the studio of a painter named Lagrenée, a place was found for him in the highly respected studio of the renowned architect, Antoine-François Peyre. A 19th century observer noted the following about their intertwined careers: "It is surprising what a complete mastery these young men in a few years contrived to exercise over the tastes of their day."

Percier won the second prix de Rome in 1783, and, in 1784, at the age of twenty years, he won the grand prix de Rome (with a pension). This paid for his stay in Rome. Fontaine had won the second prix de Rome a year earlier and was already in Rome. It was through these private projects, which impressed the influential artist, David, that they first came to the attention of Joséphine de Beauharnais and Napoleon Bonaparte. He appointed them as his personal architects and never wavered in his decision; they worked on imperial projects throughout Napoleon's time in power. The relationship only dissolved when Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to Elba in 1814. From that time forward, Percier conducted a student atelier, a teaching studio or workshop,<sup>:199</sup>

left|thumb|250x250px|The eastern façade of the [[Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel]]

left|thumb|Detail of Peace riding in a triumphal chariot from the [[Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel|245x245px]]

They refurbished and restructured the Tuileries Palace that, prior to being burnt down during the Paris Commune, faced the Louvre across the Place du Carrousel and the parterres. In that prominent square, Percier and Fontaine designed the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (1807–1808), commemorating the Napoleonic victories of the Third and Fourth Coalitions. Far from adhering to the classical model of nude statues, the designers of the Arc innovated by positioning, at the top of each of the Arc's eight marble columns, statues representing the eight corps of the Napoleonic army. Their uniforms are faithfully depicted in detail in these statues. Percier also designed the religious objects used in the baptism of Napoleon’s son.

The partnership with Fontaine

thumb|Tomb of Pierre Fontaine and Charles Percier in the [[Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris (28th division, 12th line, R, 31) ]]

Percier and Fontaine lived together for years as well as being colleagues and partners. Their different personalities and interests meant that they played different roles within the partnership. Fontaine assumed the public role and was the active manager of their projects and relations with clients, while Percier led a more reclusive existence in his apartments in the Louvre, while still participating conceptually in their joint projects and teaching at Beaux Arts.

Death

Percier died on 5 September 1838. Fontaine designed a tomb for him in their characteristic style in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. Fontaine died much later on 10 October 1853. His body was interred in the tomb he designed for Percier, in accordance with his wishes.  The exhibit examined Percier’s commissions that “significantly influenced decorative arts and architecture during an extremely turbulent and rapidly changing period in French history.”  The exhibit was organized by Bard Graduate Center Gallery, the Réunion des Musées Nationaux—Grand Palais, and the Palace of Fontainebleau (exhibited 18 March – 19 June 2017).  The catalogue was edited by Jean-Philippe Garric ().

Students

At the end of 1814, Charles Percier officially retired and devoted himself to teaching. The following are some of his students:

  • Auguste Caristie (1783–1862)
  • François Debret (1777–1850)
  • Joseph-Louis Duc (1802–1879), prix de Rome 1825
  • Martin-Pierre Gauthier (1790–1855), prix de Rome 1819
  • Alphonse de Gisors (1796–1866), second prix de Rome 1823
  • Jacques Hittorff (1792–1867)
  • Jacques-Marie Huvé (1783–1852)
  • Louis-Hippolyte Lebas (1782–1867)
  • Achille Leclère (1785–1853)
  • (1795–1855)
  • Auguste de Montferrand (1786–1858)
  • (1781–1861)
  • Louis Visconti (1791–1853)

References

  • Palais, maisons et autres édifices modernes (1798)
  • Recueil de décoration intérieure: 1801; 1812
  • Empire Style
  • Percier and Fontaine Collection