Edward Lear

British painter and draftsman Edward Lear spent a great deal of his life traveling through Europe, with extended stays in southern Italy, Greece, Switzerland, southern France, and Corsica. Lear was particularly entranced by the people and landcapes of Corsica, and he kept a detailed journal of his travels, which was published in London upon his return (Edward Lear, Journey of a Landscape Painter in Corsica. London, 1870). This drawing featuring the Ponte del Vecchio was executed in June 1864, and it can be precisely dated from Lear's description of the landmark. The drawing was reproduced as a lithograph as plate 38 of this publication. Lear describes, in detail, his attempt to capture the view: "While at table the storm clouds roll away, and the mountains all at once become so perfectly clear, that I resolve to go down once more to the Ponte del Vecchio, and, late as it is, to make a third and last trial to draw it. So, sending G. to the lodging for a light folio and a single sheet of paper. . . I walk on, and rattling quickly down the hill, drops me close to the bridge by 7 p.m. . . .Here I draw, as rapidly as possible, till 7.45. . .the magnificent bridge scene was worth this, and even more trouble." (Edward Lear, Journey of a Landcape Painter in Corsica, p. 241).