Edward Lear (British, 1812-1888)
Thebes
inscribed and dated 'Thebes.July 4.1848' (lower left), inscribed and dated 'Thebes/4 July 1848' (lower right), variously annotated throughout
pen and ink and watercolour heightened with white
23.5 x 43cm (9 1/4 x 16 15/16in).
Footnotes:
On the reverse of the sheet there is an unfinished landscape pencil sketch.

Provenance
With Spink & Sons, Ltd, London, K3/1749.
Private collection, USA.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: *
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.

The sheet has been lightly attached to the backing card using two tabs on the top edge. The sheet undulates slightly. There is fairly heavy discolouration to the sheet which has pushed the white bodycolour to the surface, however the coloured pigments do appear intact. There is a pinhole in the upper-left corner. To the centre of the sky there is a small spot of foxing.