Edward Lear, A view of a market place in a continental town, possibly Trier, Germany.
Signed and dated ‘E. Lear. del 1838.’ (lower right). Watercolour, 6? x 6? in. (12 x 16 cm.); watercolour of a continental village (verso).
The present watercolour was executed while the artist was undertaking his first prolonged overseas trip in the summer of 1837. Apart from two visits to England in 1841 and 1845-6, Lear spent the next decade based in Italy, recording and exploring the continent. The excitement that Lear gained from this early trip and his desire to explore the world was to remain with the artist throughout his life.
