Zuil op het plein van Lecce 1778

Louis Ducros captured this scene in the town square of Lecce with pen and brush in grey ink. Ducros, working in the late 18th century, a period defined by the Grand Tour, found himself amidst a complex interplay of travel, identity, and representation. Here, the column, topped by a statue with arms raised high, dominates the square. This monument, though ostensibly religious, stands as a symbol of civic pride and authority amidst the narratives of faith and power that shaped the social fabric of Lecce. Consider the figures populating the square, rendered with subtle gradations of tone. What does it mean for them to be in that space? Ducros offers us more than a picturesque view; he invites us to consider the layers of history embedded in this space and the human experiences interwoven within. This drawing becomes a mirror reflecting the complexities of identity, power, and place, urging us to question whose stories are told.