Palais de Christiansbourg 1745 - 1748

Louis Auguste Le Clerc created this drawing of the Palais de Christiansbourg, or Christiansborg Palace, with pen and brush. Made in Denmark at a time of great social change, this image presents the palace as a grand architectural statement. The palace was not just a royal residence but also the seat of the government, symbolizing centralized power. Le Clerc, trained in France, brought a visual language of absolutist power. Note how the palace dominates the composition, emphasizing its importance, while the surrounding city is orderly and controlled. The drawing creates meaning through its attention to detail and its clear depiction of the palace's architecture, reflecting the values of the time. To understand this work more deeply, we can research the history of Danish royal patronage, the impact of French artistic styles on Danish art, and the political symbolism of architecture in the 18th century.