1. Age of Absolutism 16 th –18 th centuries

2. Absolutism Definition: “a political theory asserting that unlimited power be vested in one or more rulers” (531) In Europe, the center of absolutism was France, under Louis XIV, who reigned 72 years

3. Significance of Absolutism Defined the nation-state as a coherent personality, supported by ceremony—this basic idea would persist even in democratic nation-states French court set standards in the arts, architecture, dance, and cuisine that would persist into the 20 th century

4. Louis XIV Called himself le roi soleil Supposedly said, “L’etat, c’est moi.” Never once called the Estates General into session

7. How did Louis do it? Beginning in 1682, relocated to Versailles, his palace outside of Paris; kept nobility busy: –Regular rituals for dressing, eating, etc. –Louis staged spectacles of music, theater, dance Jean Baptiste Lully: head of Versailles orchestra, Europe’s first permanent orchestra Louis was himself a great dancer and even performed in the Versailles ballet

10. Bernini, Louis XIV (1665)

11. Girardon, Apollo Attended by Nymphs, c.1666-72

12. Architecture of Versailles Classical Baroque: rational and noble theatricality rather than exuberant and mystical theatricality of Italian Baroque French architect Louis Le Vau Spatial expansiveness, order, and regularity express the image of the absolutist ruler –Road ran from king’s bedroom to the Avenue de Paris, following path of the sun

13. Gardens of Versailles 7 square miles, designed by Andre Le Notre Geometric and rational form Artificial content: fountains, artificial lakes, orangery, tulip bulbs imported from Holland

15. “Venetian” Canal, Versailles

16. Washington, D.C.

17. Pierre L’Enfant, Plan of Washington, D.C.

19. Poussin, Arcadian Shepherds (1638-39)

20. Claude, The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (1648)

21. Claude, Seaport with the Embarkation of the Queen of Sheba, 1648

22. Velazquez, Las Meninas (1656)

25. Rubens, Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus (c. 1618)

26. Context: Double Royal Marriage Louis XIII of France to Spanish princess Philip IV of Spain to French princess

27. Moliere, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (1670) Commedie-ballet performed at Versailles The play had wide appeal –Aristocrats liked it because it mocks the bourgeoisie who tried to imitate them –The bourgeoisie liked it because they saw themselves as different from the aristocracy (and so laughed at M. Jourdain, who tries to be aristocratic)