Louis Lesueur (1746-1803) Fantastic Landscape With Ancient Ruins, 1789, Signed Dated Drawing

Louis Lesueur (1746-1803) 
A  Fantasy Landscape with ancient ruins, 1789,
signed and dated "L Lesueur 1789" in the bottom centre
Pen and ink and ink wash on paper 
14.8 x 22 cm
In good condition
Framed : 27 x 34.5 cm

This fantasy landscape or capriccio is typical of the work of Louis Lesueur and the spirit of the 18th century. It combines the idealised life of peasants and imaginary ancient ruins to evoke a kind of exoticism in the countryside, as the nobles and those close to the King and Queen preferred to imagine the life of their peasants as a kind of fantasy Arcadia.
Obviously this drawing immediately brings to mind the Queen's Hamlet at the Trianon in Versailles, which was imagined in the same way and had the same purpose. The date on the drawing obviously has a special resonance. 1789 marks the beginning of the French Revolution and the end of Queen Marie Antoinette's dream life in her fantasy landscapes.
Particular attention should be paid to the bust under the archway of the large ruined tower on the left, which is reminiscent of the bust of Queen Marie Antoinette by the sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. It would not be surprising if this was a direct reference by the artist to the sovereign and her taste for fantasy landscapes.


Louis Lesueur or Le Sueur was born in Paris in 1746 and died in Hamburg in 1803. He worked in Paris, Italy and Germany.
A painter of animals, landscapes and gallant scenes, he worked in watercolour and gouache as well as a draughtsman and is particularly well known as an engraver.
A collection of his engravings is kept in the Museum of Art and History in Geneva.