Italian Watercolor of Lake Maggiore by Lear

Isola Pescatore, Lago Maggiore. Edward Lear (1812-1888). Pencil with White chalk on blue paper. 9 3/4 x 13 1/4 sheet, 21 1/2 x 25 1/2 framed. After 1837, Lear lived mainly in Italy and Corfu. On 31 October 1836 he wrote to Gould ‘my eyes are so sadly worse, that no bird under an ostrich shall I soon be able to do’. When he felt himself no longer able to cope with the detailed work of bird illustration, he turned his talents to landscape. Lear travelled extensively in Italy and as can be seen from this drawing enjoyed the tranquility of the Italian Lakes.