Gezicht op Castel Sant'Elmo en het klooster vanaf Chiaja 1778

Louis Ducros made this watercolor and graphite work, “View of Castel Sant’Elmo and the monastery from Chiaja,” using paper and washes. The thinness of the watercolor, combined with the precision of the graphite lines, allows for a remarkable level of detail. Notice how the washes define the architectural forms, while the graphite captures the textures of the weathered surfaces, each crack and shadow carefully rendered. Ducros's choices speak to the social context of the time. The detailed depiction of the architecture suggests a desire to document and understand the built environment, reflecting a broader interest in empiricism. The technique—meticulous yet efficient—implies a systemization of labor, a common feature of the period. Ultimately, this work demonstrates the value in attending to the material qualities of art, inviting us to consider the processes and social conditions that shape artistic production, as well as to challenge the separation of high art from the crafts of observation.