Venice: Santa Maria del Salute, seen from the Riva degli Schiavoni, sunset

Although Lear spent ten years in Italy from 1832 until 1842, largely based in Rome, he did not visit Venice until 1857. He returned in November 1865 on a commission for Countess Waldegrave (Venice; see V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1828, exh. cat., London, Royal Academy, 1985, p. 152, no. 59, illustrated) and in a letter to Edward Drummond, wrote that 'this city of palaces, pigeons, poodles and pumpkins...is a wonder and a pleasure' (A. Davidson, Edward Lear, 2nd ed., Harmondsworth, 1950, p. 159). Nevertheless, Lear's depictions of Venice are relatively few in number.

The drawings executed on this visit date from between 10 and 24 November. Lear took gondolas out into the canals and lagoon in order to capture the interplay of water and architecture unique to Venice. While there he made much of his work in flowing washes of watercolour, such as in the present drawing, capturing the ever-changing light of the city which so fascinated artists such as J.M.W. Turner and Whistler. Another watercolour of this view at sunset was sold in these Rooms, 5 June 2007, lot 132, and two other related watercolours are known.