Edward Lear, View from St. Jean towards Villefranche.
Dated ‘1865’ (lower left); numbered ’37’ (lower right); inscribed ‘from/Ville St. Jean/(Villefranche) 15. February 1.PM.’ (on a fragment of paper attached beneath the mount); extensively inscribed with colour notes throughout. Watercolour and pencil 21.5 x 35cm (8 7/16 x 13 3/4in).
Provenance
With Thomas Agnew & Sons, Ltd.
With Squire Gallery, London.
Private collection, UK (acquired by the grandfather of the present owner).
Lear travelled to the south of France in November 1864, first lodging in Nice before embarking on a walking tour as far along the coast as Genoa. During this winter he executed a huge volume of sketches and watercolours. Writing to Holman Hunt, Lear noted ‘One of my aims this winter was to ‘get’ all the Corniche or Riviera di Ponente; .. that I have done both ways – with 145 sketches & better health than before – also less abdomen’
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