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The image shows a view of a river with tall palm trees on each side. In the background, there are faint mountain ranges. The brushstrokes are loose, creating movement in the foliage and reflection on the water. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of black and grey. Two figures are seen interacting by the water.
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The image shows a view of a river with tall palm trees on each side. In the background, there are faint mountain ranges. The brushstrokes are loose, creating movement in the foliage and reflection on the water. The color palette is monochromatic, using shades of black and grey. Two figures are seen interacting by the water.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Avisavella, Ceylon

Edward Lear

Date
1884/1885
Medium
gray wash on wove paper, laid down on card
Dimensions
sheet: 9.5 x 14.6 cm (3 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2010.93.37
Credit line
Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
Tennyson Album

Subjects and terms

  • Tennyson, Alfred, Lord
Provenance

Tennyson family (part of an album of 200 drawings illustrating Tennyson poems; this one no. 61); Tennyson Research Centre, Lincoln, until 1980. (Thos. Agnew and Sons, London, 1980, the album broken up and the drawings dispersed); Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York, 1984; gift to NGA, 2010.

Inscription

lower left, in gray ink: Avisavella Ceylon; lower right in gray ink: EL (in monogram)

NGA object ID 143733. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.