8.

Architecture and Politics

• Architecture of authority
– Imperial palace, Beijing
• Contrast: Katsura Palace, Kyoto
– Palace at Versailles
• Dolmabahçe Palace (Istanbul)
– St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican (Rome)
• City planning
– Priene (ancient Greece)
– Timgad (Roman Algeria)
– Central Park (New York)
– Republican Ankara
Imperial Palace (“Forbidden City”). Beijing. orig. 15th c. (Ming Dynasty)
Orientation: N-S

Moat (in blue)

Wall (in black)

• Entry gate

F. Gate of Supreme
Harmony

G. Hall of Supreme
Harmony

L. Palace of
Heavenly Purity
Hall of Supreme Harmony. Imperial Palace, Beijing.

15th c. – later restored.

Katsura Palace. Kyoto (Japan). 1620-1663; minor construction later.
Japan closes itself from the outside
world
• Tokugawa Shogunate (= Edo period): 1615-
1868.
– The «shogun» has power; the emperor is a
figurehead.
– Japan sealed off; foreign trade permitted only at
a few ports on the main southern island, Kyushu.
– 1853: Japan forced to open itself to the world.

• Ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”) and

woodblock prints
Overview of the villa’s

interior space (a model)

The emperor slept in the

central room with the

sword rack.

Tatami: each rectangle

ca. 1 x 2 m.

Served as a module, about the size of

an adult person.
Louis XIV

Hyacinthe Rigaud

1701

Louis XIV:
1638-1715
Ruled: 1643-1715

Fronde: 1648-1653.
A series of civil wars
pitting the king against
nobles, law courts, and
others trying to limit
his power.
Palace of Versailles. Air View.
Photo: ToucanWings
Palace of Versailles (France). Architects: Louis Le Vau and Jules
Hardouin-Mansart. Landscape architect: André Le Nôtre. 1669-1685.
The King’s Bedchamber. Photo: Jean-Marie Hullot
The Hall of Mirrors
Dolmabahçe Palace. Architect: Garabet Balyan. 1843-1856. Istanbul.
New Saint Peter’s Basilica
Papal States
= Territory under the
direct rule of the papacy,
756-1870

Right: map – 1843

To note:
The pope resided in
Avignon (S. France),
1305-1378
Pope Julius II

Raphael
(Raffaello Sanzio)

1511-1512

National Gallery,
London

--------------------
Pope Julius II:

r. 1503-1513
Bramante’s plan

1505
 1505

Bramante

Michelangelo

1546
r’s Basiiica
Attic
Entablature

Colossal order
 Dome: St. Peter’s.
Designed by
Michelangelo,
1546-1564.
Completed in
1590.

Above: Dome, Florence Cathedral.

Architect: F. Brunelleschi. 1420-1436.
 Below: Hagia Sophia. Istanbul.
Architects: Anthemius of Tralles
and Isıdorus of Miletus.
532-537.

Above: Selimiye. Edirne.

Architect: Sinan. 1569-1574.
St. Paul’s Cathedral. London. Christopher Wren. 1675-1710.
Capitol Building

Washington, DC

Early-mid 19th c.
St. Peter’s Basilica

completed by Carlo Maderno

1607-1612

St. Peter’s Square

Gianlorenzo Bernini

designed 1660