French School, circa 1783

These drawings may have been part of a competition for the Prix d'emulation announced by the Académie Royale d'Architecture in Paris, June 1783 (J.-M. Pérouse de Montclos, Les Prix de Rome, concours de l'académie royale d'architecture au XIIIe siècle, Paris, 1984, p.182). The competition called for a design for 'A Kiosk on a site of 8 square toises, placed at the angle of a terrace, giving on a river. It should be gay and one may use Chinese, a Turkish or another style, and avoid a serious character'. The prize was awarded to François Varly (1760-1822), who built the Pavillion at the Colisée gardens in Lille.