Lumey laat pater C. Musius te Leiden ophangen, december 1572 1788 - 1790

Jacobus Buys made this pen and wash drawing, titled "Lumey laat pater C. Musius te Leiden ophangen, december 1572", sometime in the 18th century. As the title suggests, the image depicts the hanging of a priest in Leiden, Holland, in December 1572. The artist used brown ink and grey wash, traditional materials for preparatory sketches and informal compositions. With these materials Buys achieved a remarkable level of detail, particularly in the rendering of the figures' clothing and facial expressions. The ladder, the garments, the architecture, the weapons - all are painstakingly delineated. The drawing would likely have been made in a studio setting, far removed from the actual event it depicts. This distance is important, as it highlights the role of the artist in shaping historical narratives, transforming violent actions into aesthetic experiences. The value of this drawing lies not only in its technical skill, but also in its ability to make us reflect on the relationship between art, history, and social memory.