EDWARD LEAR (LONDON 1812-1888 SAN REMO)

Lear visited Egypt for the third time in early 1867, almost thirteen years after his previous visit. He set off from England in December 1866 and within a few days of arriving in Cairo he began to make plans to head up the Nile, intent on getting at least as far as the Second Cataract. He travelled south until he reached Wadi Halfa before turning north again, and on 8 February came across the temple of Abou Simbel. Lear was delighted by the temple, writing in his diary on that day 'I was absolutely too astonished and effected to draw-so I nearly lost my sketch and must go back for it.'