Roman ruins with tourists guided by a Cicerone, the Ludovisi Mars in the foreground

Fontaine's name is associated with that of Charles Percier since they met in the Acadmie de France in Rome in 1786. From 1794, Fontaine was involved with Percier in the decoration of the Opera and the Theatre Franais. After David introduced them to the then First Consul Bonaparte they worked extensively for Bonaparte's residences. They built, decorated or restored Malmaison, Saint Cloud, Fontainebleau, Versailles, Chambord, the Louvre, the Arc du Carrousel and many others. When Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor, they also organized the festivities. In 1807, Fontaine became first architect to Emperor Napoleon I. After the Emperor's fall, they continued to enjoy success, executing work for King Louis XVIII's tomb and restoring the Palais-Royal for Louis-Philippe. Fontaine wrote some treatises on architecture with Percier and participated in the creation of the Roman style.
A drawing by Fontaine's associate Percier is included in this sale as lot 178. A portrait of Percier and Fontaine together is in the Boilly album, lot 194.