Charles Percier and Piere Fontaine are virtually inseparable as the founders of the Empire period. Beginning their combined efforts as scene designers at the end of the French revolution, they found favor with Napoleom Bonaparte and were commissoned to restore many of the royal properties that had fallen into dis-repair (the Louvre, Tuillieres, Fontainebleau, St. Cloud). They were architects, designers and decorators...dealing with every detail from the basic structural elements and wall decorations to thefruniture and accessories (even providing designs for Sevres porcelain). Their style was classical and oppulent and exerted a profound influence on the develpoment of Eglish Regency style.
