Houël was a French painter, architect and engraver who undertook his Grand Tour to Sicily in 1776.
The artist had intended to travel for only one year, but it took him over three years to document the infinite riches of this place.
In Sicily, Houël wrote a diary where he transcribed his impressions and noted down the itineraries he had made and the curiosities he had discovered, tracing quick sketches of the beloved ancient remains.
The great success of Houël’s voyage is linked to its being “picturesque”, both in word and image. One of Houël’s most famous works is an engraving depicting the Ear of Dionysius.
After a long stay in the city of Arethusa, Houël wrote: “The places in Syracuse that fascinate most are the Latomie.”
