Design for a Palace Façade 1695 - 1705

This drawing of a palace facade was made anonymously, likely by an architect, with pen and ink on paper. It’s hard to say where and when exactly, but the architectural style gives us a good indication: the symmetrical design, the classical details like the statues on the roof, and the elaborate windows all point to the influence of the Renaissance in Europe. What kind of society produces such grand designs? Clearly, it’s one with a strong hierarchy, where those in power use architecture to project their wealth and authority. Palaces weren’t just homes; they were stages for elaborate rituals of power. Think of Versailles in France, where the king controlled every aspect of court life through the very layout of the building. We can learn more about this design by looking at architectural treatises, books that were like manuals for building in this period. These sources can tell us about the rules and conventions that shaped not only the design of buildings, but also the social life within them.