This exceptionally beautiful, plein air painting was made by Edward Lear during his residence on the Island of Corfu. Early in the Summer of 1856 he settled upon this view from above the village of Ascension (now Analipsis), looking across to the Citadel of Corfu and the mountains of Albania, as a subject for an oil painting. He wrote to several friends and family of his excitement at finding this ideal combination of trees, coastal landscape and distant snow-capped mountains, especially the ‘olives in their half wild & uncared for semi-culture.’ In June 1856 Lear wrote to Ann Lear that he intended to devote ‘a good bit of time to illustrating this little promontory for it is… full of interest, as the old city of Ascension (Coreyra) was built on it, ancient coins and marbles are still being found.’ Filled with dazzling Mediterranean light, this beautifully fresh view underscores what an exceptional landscape painter Lear was, combining a naturalism with an intensity of vision that suggests his growing interest in Pre-Raphaelitism.

A gift from the artist to his sister Sarah, later Mrs Charles Street (1794-1857);
Emily Street, Mrs Robert Gillies (1848-1913) daughter of the above;
Sir Harold Gillies (1882-1960) son of the above;
by descent until 2010;
W/S Fine Art, London;
Private collection, acquired from the above, to 2025