Charles Knight / Edward Lear, Civita Castellana.
Signed, inscribed and dated ‘Civita Castellana/Edward Lear del July.20.1843.’ (lower left); Signed and inscribed ‘C.Allanton Knight/from E Lear’ (lower right). Pen and ink with brown wash over traces of pencil, heightened with white. 16.8 x 25.5cm (6 5/8 x 10 1/16in).

Edward Lear met Charles Allanton Knight and his family when he arrived in Rome in 1837, Knight became a friend and patron of the artist. In 1842, the two friends went on a tour of the Abruzzi while Lear was working on Illustrated Excursions in Italy, published by T. McLean in 1846.

Provenance
Anon. sale, Christie’s, London, 20 November 2003, lot 129.
Private collection, UK

Bonhams.