Space and Political Pedagogy at the Gardens of Versailles

The gardens of Versailles served as a powerful pedagogical tool during seventeenth-century France, shaping political power dynamics by associating the French monarchy with Rome's imperial legacy. Through immersive classical art, architecture, and engineering, the gardens created an Olympian fantasy world that drew nobles into the 'figured world' of the French empire while legitimizing state centralization over nobility. This study demonstrates how spatial design can exert political influence, reinforcing royal authority by equating France with Rome's grandeur.

Mukerji, C. (2012). Space and Political Pedagogy at the Gardens of Versailles. Public Culture, 24(3 68), 509–534. https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-1630663