French formal garden
The French formal garden, also called the (literally, "garden in the French manner" in French), is a style of garden based on symmetry and the principle of imposing order on nature. Its epitome is generally considered to be the Gardens of Versailles designed during the 17th century by the landscape architect André Le Nôtre for Louis XIV and widely copied by other . Power in its connection to the French formal garden went beyond imposing it upon nature. Gardens like Versailles were symbols of political, monarchal power ,with one quote stating, The palace was built to impress. "Versailles is a mirage, a sumptuous and theatrical entertainment. It is also a manifestation of glory and power imposed to a great extent by art, luxury, and magnificence." This "manifestation of glory and power" The idea that art and culture can convey power, status, or influence is known as "soft power", or the kind of international influence that is leveraged through tools like culture and art.