The political mobilization of nature in seventeenth-century French formal gardens By Chandra Mukerji

https://www.academia.edu/3584766/The_political_mobilization_of_nature_in_seventeenth_century_French_formal_gardens?nav_from=b6be76ff-4e04-4cff-84f3-44e1aed6938e The paper explores the transformation of natural landscapes into symbols of state power during Louis XIV's reign in seventeenth-century France, particularly through the lens of formal gardens like Versailles. It argues that these gardens were not merely aesthetic achievements but crucial elements of a material culture that embodied political control, displayed military power, and manipulated nature to serve the monarchy's strategic objectives. The research highlights the interplay between architecture, military engineering, and landscape design, providing insights into the ways in which nature was politically mobilized as a tool of authority.