Spaces of negotiation in politics, law, education and administration are shaped by their architectural settings, artworks, interior designs as well as by rituals, ceremonies and processes of imagination. Drawing on art history, legal history and literary studies, this volume analyses the virtual potential of spaces that require both a normative framework and an imaginative dimension to allow different outcomes to be envisaged. The contributions explore the dynamics of premodern virtuality, offering insights into collective spaces such as town halls, churches and courtrooms, as well as into imaginary environments evoked through sculpture, painting, print media and architectural models.
