FONTAINE, PIERRE FRANCOIS LEONARD 1853), French architect, was born at Pontoise on Sept. 20, 1762, and died in Paris on Oct. 1o, 1853. Several of his family were distinguished architects. At the age of 16 he assisted the architect Andre in hydraulic works at l'Isle-Adam, and was allowed to copy his designs. In 1779 he went to Paris to study under Peyre the younger, and won the second prize at the Academy. With the pension received therefrom he went to Rome in 1785. During the French Revolution he took refuge in England ; but later was em ployed by Bonaparte to restore the palace of Malmaison and thereafter executed the principal architectural works in Paris for Napoleon I., Louis XVIII. and Louis Philippe. He was em ployed with his friend, Percier, on the arch of the Carrousel, the restoration of the Palais-Royal, the grand staircase of the Louvre and the project for the union of the Louvre and the Tuileries. In 1812 he became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts and first architect to the emperor in 1813. With Percier he published the following works : Palais, maisons, et autres edifices de Rome moderne (1802) ; Descriptions de ceremonies et de fetes (1807 and 1810); Recueil de decorations interieures (1812) ; Choix des plus celebres maisons de plaisance de Rome et des environs 0809-13); Residences des souverains, Parallele (1833) . L'his toire du Palais Royal was published by Fontaine alone.
See M. Fouche, Percier et Fontaine (19o5) .