About this artwork

Great Lavra is the largest and oldest monastery on Mount Athos, founded in 963. This atmospheric sketch shows the monastery harbour, dominated by a watch tower. The island of Thasos is visible on the horizon. Although Lear found the scenery of Mount Athos ‘stupendous’, he took a violent dislike to the monastic way of life. In an extravagant outburst he complained about ‘these miserable, mutton-hating, man-avoiding, misogynic, morose and merriment-marring, monotoning, many-mule-making, mocking, mournful, minced-fish & marmalade-masticating Monx’.

Updated before 2020

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Edward Lear

Edward Lear