Vathl, Ithaca
About this artwork
Lear arrived on the Greek island of Ithaca on 1 May 1848. He was delighted by the mountainous landscape and the panoramic views of the mainland and the neighbouring Ionian islands, Kefalonia and Lefkas. The harbour town of Vathi is the island’s capital. Lear pays particular attention in this drawing to the light and the shadows reflected on the calm sea. He was to return to Ithaca in 1863 to make sketches for his print publication, ‘Views in the Seven Ionian Islands’, in which he included a view of Vathi.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) English
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title:Vathl, Ithaca
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date created:1848
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materials:Pen and brown ink and watercolour with gouache over pencil on buff paper
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measurements:25.40 x 43.81 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Accepted by H.M. Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the National Gallery of Scotland, 2003
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accession number:D 5551.26
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gallery:
Edward Lear
Edward Lear
Although now best known for his nonsense verse, Edward Lear was a superb draughtsman, a talented musician, an intrepid traveller and an outstanding landscape artist and travel writer. He was born in London and began to draw commercially at the age of sixteen. He developed a passion for travelling...
