A distant view of Corfu from Viros

Edward Lear first visited Corfu briefly in 1848. On this first visit he was overwhelmed by the beauty of the scenery. Writing to his sister Ann, he said: 'I wish I could give you any idea of the beauty of this island, it is really a Paradise' (V. Noakes, Edward Lear: The Life of a Wanderer, Stroud, 2006, p. 73). He would return during the 1850's, and then again every winter from 1861 to 1864, during which time the present watercolour was painted. It includes typical motifs of Lear's Corfu works, notably the Citadel in the distance, the gnarled and twisted trunks of the olive trees, and the Corfiote shepherds in their red caps.

For another view of Corfu by the artist, see lot 265.