Argostoli and the Black Mountain, Cephalonia

Details

EDWARD LEAR (LONDON 1812-1888 SAN REMO, ITALY)
Argostoli and the Black Mountain, Cephalonia
inscribed, numbered and dated 'Argostoli [in Greek]. (129)/May 5. 1863.' (lower right) and extensively inscribed with colour notes
pencil, pen and brown ink and watercolour
12 7/8 x 19 ¾ in. (32.8 x 50.3 cm.)

Provenance

Gilbert Davis (L. 757a).
William Cavendish Bentinck, 9th Duke of Portland and by descent to
Anonymous sale; Christie's, New York, 30 January 2014, lot 72.

Special Notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Lear left Corfu on 4 March 1864 when it ceased to be a British Protectorate with the transfer of the Ionian Islands to Greece. In the spring of 1863, before leaving the 'loveliest place in the world' (V. Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, London, 1985, p. 108) Lear toured the other Ionian Islands, Paxos, Levkas, Ithaca, Cephalonia, Kythera and finally Zante, gathering material for his Views in the Seven Ionian Islands which was published on 1 December 1863. Plate XII of the series is a view of Argostoli, the capital of Cephalonia with the Black Mountain behind, so called because of the 'great pine-forest at the top' as described by Lear in the text accompanying the lithograph.
Lear's drawings of Cephalonia were all dated between 2 and 8 May, the present drawing was executed mid way through this trip. Another undated view showing the Black Mountain was sold in these Rooms, 12 December 2007, lot 56.
Gilbert Davis (1899-1983), a previous owner of this drawing, was an actor and writer who ammassed a collection of over 3,000 drawings of British artists and other artists working in Britain.

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