GALLERY 7

Thinking the State

Following the great voyages of exploration, territorial and commercial expansion between the 16th and 18th centuries brought radical change to the exercise of power and to modes of representation and communication. From Qing China to the conflicts in the Americas, from Mughal India to the Ottoman empire, the dividing up of territories required the creation of strong networks to ensure stable governance in the new empires.
As the embodiment of a State, rulers were required to embark on ambitious programmes that amalgamated their religious, military and economic power in order to stabilise or enlarge their spheres of influence. Prompting a newfound concern with the symbolism and expression of prowess and power, the resulting objects and images were used by rulers to communicate with peers and subjects alike.