Edward Lear (1812-1888)

La Turbíe, on the highest point of the Via Aurelia, lies in the hills behind Monaco and Monte Carlo. Lear left England during the winter of 1864/5 to walk along the coast of Southern France to Genoa, covering between 16 and 20 miles a day. He was back in Nice by New Year's Eve 1864. A view of Turbia was also used to illustrate Tennyson's poem 'The Daisy'
'What Roman strength Turbía show'd
In ruin, by the mountain road;'

Another watercolour of this subject was sold in the Rooms, 19 November 1985, lot 60, £6,600.