Edward Lear (London 1812-1888 San Remo, Italy)

Paxos

Details

Edward Lear (London 1812-1888 San Remo, Italy)
Paxos
dated and numbered '5.45 April 8./1863/(21)' (lower right) and inscribed 'The campanile is only very faintly seen at times,/through the veil of olives. It is ochkry [sic] w_ gy.' (lower right) and extensively inscribed in Greek and with color notes (lower left)
pencil, pen and ink and watercolor heightened with touches of bodycolor, on buff paper
14¾ x 21½ in. (37.5 x 54.6 cm.)

Sale room notice

We are grateful to Jeremy Jefferies for identifying the subject of the watercolor as the village of Fontana and pointing out that the campanile is still there but the tall first floor arch was blocked many years ago.

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Jennifer Wright

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Lot Essay

Lear wrote of Paxos, 'The difficulty in making Paxos picturesque. It reminds one of a Cornwall or Devon Cove without its picturesque houses. Great quiet is its characteristic.'

For a note on Lear's time in Greece, see lot 155.

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