Edward Lear (London 1812-1888 San Remo)

Having spent the winter of 1864-5 in Nice, Lear returned to the South of France in the winter of 1867, settling this time in Cannes, where he had to take 'very expensive rooms... - sun-aspect for health - light to work, and positions etc. for swells to come to' (Letter to Fortescue, 26 December 1867, ed. Lady Strachey, Later Letters of Edward Lear, 1911, p. 89).

Lear built up quite a following in the town and as well as his characteristic watercolour sketches, he painted finished studio watercolours of which the present watercolour is an excellent example.

For another view of Cannes, see lot 108.