Versailles: Science & Splendour

This beautifully produced exhibition catalog Versailles: Science and Splendour accompanies the major show at the Science Museum, London, dedicated to the fascinating intersection of art, science, and innovation at the royal court of Versailles.

Far more than a symbol of opulence, Versailles was also a thriving hub of scientific discovery in the 17th and 18th centuries, where astronomy, anatomy, engineering, and technology were displayed as spectacles of royal power. Through essays by leading experts and over a hundred illustrations, the catalog explores how art and science worked together to project authority, inspire wonder, and shape cultural ideals under Louis XIV and his successors.

Richly illustrated and intellectually engaging, this volume offers a new perspective on Versailles — not only as a palace of splendour but also as a stage where knowledge itself became part of the performance of power.