Laura Gascoigne

Fresh and dreamy: Edward Lear, at Ikon Gallery, reviewed

Not many people think of the author of ‘The Owl and the Pussy-Cat’ as an artist, but it was as an artist that he thought of himself

‘Santa Maura Fortress from the West, 6.00 p.m., 19 April 1863’ , by Edward Lear. Credit: Stuart Whipps 
issue 24 September 2022

‘It seems to me that I have to choose between 2 extremes of affection for nature… English, or Southern… The latter – olive – vine – flowers… warmth & light, better health – greater novelty – & less expense in life. On the other side are, in England, cold, damp & dullness, – constant hurry & hustle – cessation from all varied topographical interest, extreme expenses…’

That choice was effectively made for Edward Lear in 1837 when he gave up the natural history studies by which he had made his name in his teens and headed south to Rome on doctors’...

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