Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries
Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries
Property from the Estate of the late Alys Rickett (1930-2022)
Edward Lear
Distant view of the Citadel from the village of Ascension, Corfu
Auction Closed
July 6, 10:38 AM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Estate of the late Alys Rickett (1930-2022)
Edward Lear
London 1812 - 1888 San Remo
Distant view of the Citadel from the village of Ascension, Corfu
Watercolour over pencil, heightened with bodycolour;
signed and dated lower right: Edward Lear / 1857, inscribed lower centre: Corfu
294 by 461 mm
from where acquired by Ronald John Rickett (d. 1970),
by family descent to the present owners
Lear first visited the island of Corfu in April 1848, invited by Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Rector of the University. He developed a deep love for the beauty of the island and remained on it from December 1855 until May 1857, with a break in the middle of 1856 for a visit to Mount Athos. He was to spend every winter between 1861 and 1864 on the island, returning once more in 1877.
The present watercolour shows the view from the village of Ascension (now Análipsis), which is named after the chapel on the hilltop where the Feast of Ascension was celebrated. The view is spectacular, taking in the woodland and olive groves, the Citadel, the sea and the great Albanian mountains beyond.