Edward Lear (1812-1888)
'Hebron', figures and camels, the city beyond, c.1858
signed 'Edward Lear del.' l.l., inscribed 'Hebron' l.r., pen and ink and watercolour heightened with white
15.4 x 23cm

Provenance: With Leger Galleries, London, by December 1982.

Edward Lear travelled extensively around Europe, the near east and as far as India. He visited Hebron in April 1858, passing through Bethlehem en route to Petra. In a letter sent to Lady Waldrave on 27 May 1958 from Damascus, Lear discusses various compositional ideas for executing a painting for her. He says of Hebron: “….. there is Hebron, which is very particularly a Hewbrew antiquity, & is besides sufficiently picturesque to form a good picture: though why Abraham choose to live there I cannot think: I found it abominably cold & wet, & besides, they threw stones at me whenever I drew, so that I wished the whole population in Abraham’s bosom or elsewhere 20 times a day.”





overall: 38 x 44.5cm
The edges of the watercolour are apparent within the framing and it is therefore not clear how the watercolour has been secured. Some time staining. Unexamined out of frame.