View of Philae at Sunset, Egypt

Philae was one of Lear's most-loved subjects, so much so that he said that 'it is impossible to describe the place to you, any further than by saying it is more like a real fairy island that anything else I can compare it to' (Letter to his sister Ann, 7 February 1854, in V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, London, 1985, p. 146).

For other works by Lear in Egypt see lots 71, 73, 74 and 75.