Hoofdingang van het Untere Belvedere te Wenen before 1894

This is an anonymous photograph of the main entrance of the Lower Belvedere in Vienna. The Belvedere, constructed in the early 18th century, existed in a highly stratified society with strict class divisions. Commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy, a military figure, this photograph captures a space of power and privilege. Consider how the architecture reinforces existing social hierarchies, controlling access and dictating who is permitted entry. The elaborate ornamentation and imposing scale of the entrance serve to impress upon visitors the power and status of those within. Baroque architecture has often been associated with theatricality. Ask yourself, how does the design invite performance and spectacle, and how might this have influenced the rituals and behaviors of those who inhabited and visited this space? While access to the Belvedere was originally limited, the image now serves as a reminder of how spaces of power can be reimagined and re-purposed over time.