L14040

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Lot 195
  • 195

Edward Lear

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description

  • Edward Lear
  • Monte Generoso
  • Pen and brown ink and watercolour over pencil;
    inscribed both in pen and brown ink and pencil lower left: Monte Generoso / July 24. 1878 / 5 pm / & Aug 5 5.30. Aug 7. - 4.5 PM, further inscribed with the artist’s colour notes
  • 372 by 494 mm

Provenance

Roger Pachman Hinks;
Peter Powell;
sale, London, Sotheby's, 16 July 1981, lot 130;
with The Fine Art Society, London, 1987

Exhibited

London, The Fine Art Society, The Travels of Edward Lear, 1983, no. 19;
London, Royal Academy, Edward Lear 1812-1888, 1985, no. 36 

Literature

V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, London 1985, p. 122, p. 36

Condition

The medium has remained well preserved in this work. The composition is strong and impressive. At the extreme edges of the sheet there is a brown line which is associated with previous mounting. Towards the lower left hand corner of the sheet there is a repaired tear. This is only visible on close inspection.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Monte Generoso is situated on the Italian-Swiss border to the west of Lake Como. Lear visited there for the first time in 1878 and was often to return during the summer months. He found the mountain scenery to be inspirational, and in a letter to his nephew he wrote that ‘the views near the hotel…are wonderful. There is one point from which you may (perhaps) see all the plains and lakes of Italy, besides the rivers Jordan, Mississippi & Amazon, the whole course of the Nile, - as well as the cities of Pekin, St. Petersburg & Copenhagen, not to speak of the straits of Jamaica & Joppa with the adjacent islands of Cappadocia, Ceylon and Islington.’1

Lear started work on the present work on 24th July, but the weather turned and the mountains were obscured by clouds. He returned twice more, on the 5th and 7th August, to finish.  

1. V. Noakes, op. cit., p. 122, p. 36