Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

This is a large folio hand-coloured lithograph of the Egyptian Neophron (Vulture) by Edward Lear (del. et lith.). It has been removed from John Gould's The 'Birds of Europe', printed by C. Hullmandel between 1832-37. 'E. Lear del.' is signed in the plate to the left of the lower branch on which the bird with white plumage perches. The image includes an immature bird (behind) and an adult.

Edward Lear, one of the greatest ornithological artists of his era, was a self-taught naturalist and painter who later became famous as a writer of nonsense and limericks. Lear’s exacting and masterly skill as an artist was employed by many major publishers of 19th century English ornithologies and natural histories. Born outside London in 1812, Lear was the 20th child of Jeremiah Lear, a London stockbroker. In 1816, Jeremiah went bankrupt, and Edward was raised primarily by his elder sister, Ann, who provided classical studies and taught him to draw from nature. At age 14, Lear began his career as an artist. About 1828, Lear began work as a zoological draughtsman, working with, among other notables, Prideaux John Selby. It was there he also met John Gould, the Society’s taxidermist, who became one of the great 19th century naturalist publishers. Lear drew 68 plates and many of the foregrounds for Gould’s 'Birds of Europe'. 

Dimensions: 53 x 36.5 cm (21 x 14 1/2 in)

Condition: The plate is in very good condition. It is aged toned with some minor spotting / marks. It has been trimmed to one side from where it was disbound from the book and to fit into a frame. There is a narrow border around the paper's edge with a paler tone due to being protected from sunlight by the moulding when it was framed (this old frame has since been discarded).

Postage & packing: £6.50 within the UK. Please contact us for a quote if you live overseas.