Edward Lear

Admiral Sir Charles Thomas Scott;
Thence by descent to his son Sir David Scott in 1911

Maldwin Drummond, After You, Mr Lear - In the Wake of Edward Lear in Italy, 2007 p. 177

Sheet: The sheet has been laid down. There is evidence of some very minor discoloration, particularly in the sky. There is a further minor foxmark again in the sky. These defects do not effect the overall balance of the image. Medium: The colours remain very vibrant and overall the work is in good condition. Frame: Held in a gilt-wood frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Lear visited Sicily twice. First he explored the island in the spring of 1842 travelling with one of Sir Thomas Acland's younger sons, Leopold, and a nephew of Sir Stamford Raffles. The companions had only initially planned to spend one month touring the country, but their tour stretched to ten weeks, as a result of a 'most wonderful combination of delays and ill fortunes' (Lear to the 13th Earl of Derby, 5 June 1842:  see Vivien Noakes, Edward Lear Selected Letters, 1988, p.55).

Five years later, between May third and July fifteenth 1847, he visited Sicily again, this time in the company of a friend he had met in Rome, the would-be painter John Joshua Proby, later Lord Proby. They travelled via steamer from Naples and were in Palermo between May 3 and 11 and according to Maldwin Drummond it was during this visit to the island that he painted this particular view (see Maldwin Drummond, After You, Mr Lear - In the Wake of Edward Lear in Italy, 2007 p. 177). Lear wrote, 'Palermo I think pleased me more than any other city I was ever in' (ibid Drummond, p. 176). Proby and Lear explored the island extensively on this visit, particularly enjoying the Temple of Hera at Segesta and the ruins at Agregento, the quarries at Syracuse and the view from the top of Mount Etna. 

The present watercolour was used as the basis for an oil painting of 1872 entitled Monte Pellegrino (private collection). Maldwin Drummond has found that the view of Monte Pellegrino was painted from a vantage close to the convent of Santa Maria di Gesù above Castello di Maridolce.