Lot Essay
Lear's friend and patron Lord Northbrook was appointed Viceroy of India in 1871 and within weeks invited the artist to go for a tour there as his guest. After an abortive attempt in 1872 Lear reached Bombay on 22 November 1873 and the Himalayas in March 1874. By 14 April he was at the hill-station of Simla, where Lord Northbrook lent him a house with servants, and he stayed there until early in May. After he left he recalled in his journal on 6 May, 'Simla, certainly I do look back to its groves and woods and beautiful flowers with delight!' (R. Murphy, ed., Edward Lear's Indian Journal, 1953, p. 134). While there Lear also noted 'Size - immensity are the most striking qualities of the Landscape' (manuscript account of Indian journey in Houghton Library, Harvard University, reprinted in V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, exhibition catalogue, Royal Academy, 1985, p. 120), this despite writing to his friend Lord Carlingford on 12 June that, 'At Mussorie & Simla, the huge mountain scenery is far less imposing than much you may see in Switzerland or Albania...'! (V. Noakes, ed, Edward Lear: Selected Letters, Oxford, 1988, p. 242).