Dhow on the Nile at Sunset

Watercolour heightened with bodycolour on grey paper. Lear visited Egypt and the Nile three times, in 1849, in late 1853 and in early 1867. His first recorded use of this monogram is in 1858 (see Vivien Noakes, Edward Lear 1812-1888, exhibition catalogue, 1985, p.205) and it suggests that this is a finished work produced in the studio rather than an on-the-spot sketch. A similarly finished work by Lear, of the same size, and also depicting dhows on the Nile was sold at Christie's on 22nd January 2003, lot 69 for '9,500.