Perspectival Cross-Section of a Venetian Palace 1830 - 1879

Eugène-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc created this ‘Perspectival Cross-Section of a Venetian Palace’ with graphite on paper. The drawing, with its meticulous lines and spatial arrangement, is visually arresting as it exposes the inner workings of a Venetian palace. Le-Duc uses the cross-section not just to represent, but to dissect, revealing the structure and organization. In doing so, the facade becomes secondary, shifting the focus to the interior's functionality and design. Note the strategic placement of human figures throughout the palace, which serve to emphasize the scale and purpose of each room. The linearity and precision of the draftsmanship create a sense of order and rationality. The drawing is less about the palace's aesthetic beauty and more about its architectural truth. The drawing challenges conventional ideas about space and representation. It invites us to deconstruct and rethink the relationship between form and function in architecture.