About this artwork
This is one of the last drawings Lear made on Corfu, before departing the island on 4 April 1864. His journal for 17 February records ‘Wonderful lovely calm brightness all day. But it is better to try not to regret this place… At 2 went to the hill beyond Mandoúki – looking to the city - and finished a drawing begun in 1857… drew again until 5.15’. Lear has noted colours and details of the landscape across the composition. He would use these as reminders when adding watercolour and ink to his sketch in the studio. One inscription refers to ‘Moos Katoes or Natts’.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) English
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title:Corfu Town
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date created:1864
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materials:Pen and brown ink and watercolour over pencil
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measurements:32.70 x 49.21 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 5551.24
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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...