A Blog of Bosh

Edward Lear, View of the Nile at Es Shelaal, Egypt.
Inscribed and dated Es Shelaal/4-4.45 pm/28 Jany 1867 (lower left), numbered 249 (lower right), and further inscribed with colour notes throughout. Pencil, pen and brown ink, and watercolour, heightened with white 29.2 x 54.2cm; 11½ x 21¼in

Provenance
Mr and Mrs Charles Beecher Hogan, Woodbridge Connecticut, by 1960;
By descent to Peter Russell Spokes; By descent to Ann Spoke Symonds, Oxford

Exhibited
Connecticut, Yale University Art Gallery, Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture Collected by Yale Alumni, May-June 1960, no.180

This work dates from Edward Lear’s second trip to the Nile in 1867. At the beginning of January he travelled south from Cairo, meeting his Canadian cousin Archie Jones, at Luxor. On the morning of the 27th January he sketched at Aswan before making his way to Es Shelaal, where he executed the present work. He was still at Es Shelaal on the 29th and by the 30th was at the first cataract at Philae.

Edward Lear, Near Beni Suef.
Pen, ink and wash. Inscribed ‘near Benisouef. 14. March. AM 8-1854’ (lower left) and ‘Sky, at horizon, palest water pk(?)’ (lower right), and with colour notes throughout. 6.5 x 15cm (2½ x 5¾ in.)

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Near Kalàbshe.
Pen and ink and wash. Inscribed and dated ‘5.5pm. 16.Feby. 1867. near Kalabashe’ (lower left) and numbered ‘(500)’ (lower right). 7.5 x 15cm (2¾ x 5¾ in.)

Provenance
With Ryman & Co., Oxford
Bonham’s, London, Fine British and Continental Watercolours and Drawings, 7 March 2006, lot 85, where purchased by Robert Kime

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Pyramids.
Pencil and watercolour. Signed with monogram (lower right). 10 x 20cm (3¾ x 7¾ in.)

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Near Thebes.
Pencil and watercolour. Later signed with monogram and dated 1884 (lower right) and inscribed and dated ’19 Jany 1867′ (lower left). 8.5 x 17.5cm (3¼ x 6¾ in.)

Provenance
Guy Peppiatt Fine Art Ltd, London

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Esneh on the Nile, near Luxor.
Pencil, pen and red ink and watercolour on buff paper. Inscribed and indistinctly dated ‘Esneh.5/2 P.M. Jany24.1856(?)’ (lower left) and numbered ‘(126)’ (lower right). 10 x 15.5cm (3¾ x 6 in.)

Provenance
The Fine Arts Society, 1992
Sale, Christie’s, London, British Art on Paper incl. The Blue Rigi by J.M.W Turner, 5 June 2006, lot 64, where purchased by Robert Kime

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Manfalut on the Nile.
Pen, ink and wash. Inscribed and dated ‘Manfalut,10 March 1854, 9-10AM’ (lower left)  and further inscribed ‘Too cold to hold a pencil’ (lower right). 10.5 x 22cm (4 x 8½ in.)

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Near Kalich.
Watercolour and ink heightened with white. Inscribed and dated ‘Jany 9 1867’ (lower left), later monogram and date 1884 (lower right). 8.5 x 17cm (3¼ x 6½ in.)

Dreweatts.

Edward Lear, Edfu Sunset.
Watercolour. Inscribed ‘Edfoo [sic] Sunset, 6.30pm, Feby 11. 1854’ (lower left). 15 x 23cm (5¾ x 9 in.)

Provenance
Christie’s, London, 15 November 1988, lot 44
Christie’s, London, 1 August 2002, lot 70, where purchased by Robert Kime

Exhibited
Lausanne, Fondation de L’Hermitage, L’Age d’or de l’Aquarelle Anglaise 1770-1900, 22 January-24 May 1999, no. 116

Literature
G. Bauer, Le Siecle d’or de l’Aquarelle Anglaise, Anthèse, 1998, p. 145. pl. 201
W. Hauptman, L’Age d’or de l’Aquarelle Anglaise 1770-1900, Lausanne, 1999, p. 176, no. 116, illustrated in colour

Dreweatts.