Book of the duchess: the final confrontation

Number 19: Arrived at the place of execution, the prisoners once more confront the duchess

The plot episode 18 (summarised from the text of Lorna’s novel)

On their way to the executioner’s block, the prisoners confronted the duchess for the final time.

Lorna’s remarks

Very little can be said in defence of of this except that it followed number 13 immediately. Everything that could be wrong is wrong. The citadel, admittedly supposed to overshadow the city, is much too close. It does not convince me that it is anything more than cardboard.

We strike a bad patch here for three or four pictures, for not only are the subjects very difficult but also - in a desire to draw the ‘plummy’ parts of the story first - they were the first to be attempted long before I had learnt what I could draw. Nice distinctions!

Raoul, poor fellow, seems to have crumpled, and the duchess, poor soul, is not sitting on her chair. He position is unenviable, but I should have thought it would not have manifested itself in an inability to sit straight! And what a pink sunset!