Edward Lear 1812-1888

Lear first visited Tivoli in May 1838 and described it in a letter to his sister, Ann, as 'the height of landscape perfection' (Lear to Ann, 11th May 1838; quoted by Vivien Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, 1985, p.98). During his visit he was particularly impressed by the Villa D’Este and described it as ‘a scene worth walking to Italy from England – if one could see nothing else. It has struck me more than anything since I left home…about the 16th. Century – Cardinal D’Este built this mansion. The house is very grand and simple in form – but it is its situation that so bewilders one. I could not believe I was awake at first. It is raised quite above all Tivoli, at the top of an extremely steep hill – all of which is turned into one exquisite garden…it is really like magic!’ (Lear to Ann, 3rd May 1838, quoted by Vivien Noakes, ed., Edward Lear Selected Letters, 1988, p.44).

Lear was so enthralled by the beauty of Tivoli that, after his first visit in 1838, he returned there many times and there are two different views of the town in his Views in Rome and its Environs, 1841, plates 23 & 24.

Another version of the present drawing on a similar sized sheet of paper and dated 1840 was sold at Christie's on 20th March 1979, lot 191