This lot has been imported from outside of the UK … Read more

PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF NINA R. AND ARTHUR A. HOUGHTON, JR. (LOTS 94-97 AND 100-129)

EDWARD LEAR (LONDON 1812-1888 SAN REMO)

Rabbato, Gozo, Malta

Details

EDWARD LEAR (LONDON 1812-1888 SAN REMO)
Rabbato, Gozo, Malta
dated '5.30 P.M. March 20. 1866.' and numbered '203' (lower right) and extensively inscribed with colour notes throughout
pen and brown ink and pink, green and ochre wash heightened with white on grey paper
7 1/8 x 20 ¾ in. (18 x 52.8 cm.)

Provenance

with Agnew's, London, where purchased for the present collection.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The city of Rabbato is now known as Victoria, but remains the capital of Gozo, the larger of Malta's subsidiary islands. Lear travelled to Malta for the winter of 1865-6 on his way from Venice to Corfu and stayed for three months. He spent just a week on Gozo, from 16-23 March, and on his daily walks made over 80 sketches of the island. He wrote to his friend Lady Waldegrave on 13 April 1866, 'Did I tell you of my visit to Oudesch, vulgarly called Gozo? It was a most pleasant one, and with the help of Giorgio I drew every bit of it, walking fifteen or twenty miles a day. Its coast scenery may truly be called pomskizillious and gromphibberous, being as no words can describe its magnificence.'

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