FDA-D.326-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-D.326-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
El Karnak
Whiteley
Whiteley
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
collection
collection
Comments
The youngest of 21 children, Lear was self-taught as an artist. He found early employment as a draughtsman at London Zoo and published a book of parrots at the age of 20. Following his first trip to Italy in 1837, he devoted himself to landsape. He travelled to Greece and then on to Egypt in 1848-49 and as late as 1873-5 made an extensive tour of India and Sri Lanka. Between these journeys Lear lived primarily in Italy and died in San Remo in 1888.
Lear visited Karnak, on the Nile just north of Luxor, on the second of his five visits to Egypt in 1854-55. The site had been visited by David Roberts in 1838, and his drawings of it published in 1847 as part of his monumental six volume series of lithographs The Holy Land (1842-49). Although the importance of the site was beginning to be recognised, it was still largely submerged in sand, and excavations did not begin until later in the century.
Lear visited Karnak, on the Nile just north of Luxor, on the second of his five visits to Egypt in 1854-55. The site had been visited by David Roberts in 1838, and his drawings of it published in 1847 as part of his monumental six volume series of lithographs The Holy Land (1842-49). Although the importance of the site was beginning to be recognised, it was still largely submerged in sand, and excavations did not begin until later in the century.
Description
Dimensions
height (actual size): 263mm
width (actual size): 457mm
width (actual size): 457mm
Inscription
Inscribed 'El Karnak./15 & 16. Feby./1854' (lower left); numbered '209' (lower right) and further inscribed with extensive colour notes
Watermark 'DE CANS' (upper right corner made up)
Watermark 'DE CANS' (upper right corner made up)
Materials & techniques note
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour on buff paper
Production
Person
Lear, Edward, 1812 - 1888 (Artist)
Date
1854
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: With Agnew's, 1965; with Spink: collection of Martin Whiteley; by whom bequeathed to Eton College
Previous ownership
Whiteley, Martin F, 1930 - 1984: Bequeathed to Eton by Martin Whiteley
References
• Wilcox, T., A Genius for Watercolour; Watercolours from the Eton College Collection, Christie's exhibition catalogue, London, 2003 (p. 72, no. 64)
