EDWARD LEAR (LONDON 1812-1888 SAN REMO)

The city of Rabbato is now known as Victoria, but remains the capital of Gozo, the larger of Malta's subsidiary islands. Lear travelled to Malta for the winter of 1865-6 on his way from Venice to Corfu and stayed for three months. He spent just a week on Gozo, from 16-23 March, and on his daily walks made over 80 sketches of the island. He wrote to his friend Lady Waldegrave on 13 April 1866, 'Did I tell you of my visit to Oudesch, vulgarly called Gozo? It was a most pleasant one, and with the help of Giorgio I drew every bit of it, walking fifteen or twenty miles a day. Its coast scenery may truly be called pomskizillious and gromphibberous, being as no words can describe its magnificence.'