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Lot 66 THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN (Lots 66-84)
The following lots are part of a group of Middle Eastern views and subjects assembled by a distinguished collector who has travelled extensively in the region since the early 1960s. His interest in the area was probably first quickened by his father's heroic service as a sapper in Mesopotamia in World War I.
The following lots are part of a group of Middle Eastern views and subjects assembled by a distinguished collector who has travelled extensively in the region since the early 1960s. His interest in the area was probably first quickened by his father's heroic service as a sapper in Mesopotamia in World War I.
Edward Lear (1812-1888)
View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, Israel
Closed15 December 2010
Price Realised
GBP 37,250
More Information
Specialist note
In 1858 Lear was commissioned to paint a view of Jerusalem at sunset by Lady Waldegrave for whom he also executed a large scale oil painting of Venice. In preparation for this painting Lear explored the surrounding landscape to find the most suitable location from which to base his viewpoint of the great city, climbing 'to the spot Christ must have been on when he "saw the city" - on coming from Bethany' (Letter to his sister Ann, 29 March 1858, in V. Noakes, Edward Lear: The Life of a Wanderer, London, 2004, p. 133) on the Mount of Olives from which could be seen 'the site of the temple & the 2 domes, - and it shews the ravine of the valley of Jehosaphat, over which the city looks...And besides this the sun, at sunset, catches the sides of the larger Eastern buildings, while all the upper part of the city is in shadow; - added to all which there is an unlimited foreground of figs, olives, & pomengranates, not to speak of goats, sheep, & huming beings [sic]' (Letter to Lady Waldegrave, 27.V.58, in V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, London, 1985, p. 149).