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Lot Essay
The present drawing and lot 239 both depict the monastery of Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, seen from across the bay. Lear spent much of 1856 on the island, leaving for only two months from August to October to travel to Mount Athos. The date on these drawings of early September suggests that he continued to work on them whilst travelling. On his first visit to Palaiokastritsa, in April 1756, Lear described it in his diary as 'Such a pretty little place! It is surrounded by great rocks, on one of which is a convent, & on another an old castle...The beauty and quiet of the place is delightful.' Lear returned there on several occasions over the next few years.
Charles Church (1823-1915), later the Dean of Wells, met Lear in Italy in the winter of 1847, whilst Church was travelling through Europe on his way to stay with his uncle Sir Richard Church (1784-1873), who had commanded the Greek forces in the War of Independence against Turkey. The two men travelled together through Greece in the summer of 1848 and became lifelong friends. Church amassed a considerable collection of his friend's work.
Charles Church (1823-1915), later the Dean of Wells, met Lear in Italy in the winter of 1847, whilst Church was travelling through Europe on his way to stay with his uncle Sir Richard Church (1784-1873), who had commanded the Greek forces in the War of Independence against Turkey. The two men travelled together through Greece in the summer of 1848 and became lifelong friends. Church amassed a considerable collection of his friend's work.