Edward Lear

Sale: Sotheby's, London, 13 July 1995, lot 151
John, Lord D'Ayton (purchased at the above sale); thence by descent to the present owners

London, Sotheby's, Edward Lear, An Exhibition of Works by Edward Lear from the D'Ayton International Collection, assembled by John D'Ayton, 2004, no. 19

The following condition report has been prepared by Jane McAusland ACR FIIC, or Nether Hall Barn, Suffolk IP14 4PP: Support The one sheet of paper that supports this watercolour is laid into a false margin for full display. A slight mount stain shows at the top edge, otherwise the condition is excellent. Medium The medium is in a very good condition, the colour being exceptionally bright and unfaded. There are very slight, scattered losses to the coloured pigment in places in the trees, this is caused by these areas falling off as the gum has typically dried out and is cracking. Conservation Note As this watercolour is really in such a good condition I would not suggest any major conservation treatment, though it might be visibly agreeable to re-touch the minute areas of loss described above. Note: This work was viewed outside studio conditions.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This highly finished studio work depicts travellers and their camels resting at Wady Feiran; a river running to the east of the Gulf of Suez. Visible in the distance are the dramatic mountains of Sinai. The watercolour is based on studies executed by Lear during his trip to Egypt and Palestine in late 1866 and early 1867. Lear started these travels with Archie Jones, his Canadian cousin, whom he had met in Luxor. Together they journeyed to Esnah, Edfu and as far as Philae, before parting company. Lear continued on, with his man-servant Giorgio, to Sakkara and Memphis before turning his thoughts to Palestine.

Lear planned to cross the desert to Gaza and go inland to Jerusalem before travelling north to Galilee. On 22 March 1867 he left Cairo and by April he had reached Jerusalem. However, soon after he arrived he fell ill and this, together with the number of pilgrims approaching Jerusalem for Easter, prevented him from travelling further north. By the 20 April he was back in Alexandria before travelling by boat to Brindisi.