by Edward Lear
THE PELICAN CHORUS.
THE COURTSHIP OF THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BÒ.
THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES.
THE NEW VESTMENTS.
THE QUANGLE WANGLE’S HAT.
THE CUMMERBUND.
THE AKOND OF SWAT.
ALPHABET IV. (1877)
ALPHABET V. (1877)
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ARLY
ECLOGUE COMPOSED AT CANNES, DECEMBER 9TH, 1867
THE HERALDIC BLAZON OF FOSS THE CAT
THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD LEAR
HOW PLEASANT TO KNOW MR. LEAR
HIS GARDEN
WHEN “GRAND OLD MEN” PERSIST IN FOLLY
SAITH THE POET OF NONSENSE
AT DINGLE BANK
EPITAPH
MRS. JAYPHER
SPOTS OF GREECE
BUT AH! (THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER SAID)
IT IS A VIRTUE IN INGENUOUS YOUTH
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO FELT PERT
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PAXO
PARODY OF TENNYSON’S ‘TO EDWARD LEAR ON HIS TRAVELS IN GREECE’
THE CHILDREN OF THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
COLD ARE THE CRABS
THE SCROOBIOUS PIP
THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEAR, THE POLLY AND THE PUSSEYBITE ON THEIR WAY TO THE RITERTITLE MOUNTAINS
LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A-D E-H I-L M-O P-S T-V W-Z
ALPHABET I. (1871)
ALPHABET II. (1871)
ALPHABET III. (1871)
ALPHABET IV. (1877)
ALPHABET V. (1877)
AT DINGLE BANK
BUT AH! (THE LANDSCAPE PAINTER SAID)
CALICO PIE.
COLD ARE THE CRABS
ECLOGUE COMPOSED AT CANNES, DECEMBER 9TH, 1867
EPITAPH
HIS GARDEN
HOW PLEASANT TO KNOW MR. LEAR
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF MY UNCLE ARLY
IT IS A VIRTUE IN INGENUOUS YOUTH
MR. AND MRS. SPIKKY SPARROW.
MRS. JAYPHER
PARODY OF TENNYSON’S ‘TO EDWARD LEAR ON HIS TRAVELS IN GREECE’
SAITH THE POET OF NONSENSE
SPOTS OF GREECE
THE ABSOLUTELY ABSTEMIOUS ASS
THE ADVENTURES OF MR. LEAR, THE POLLY AND THE PUSSEYBITE ON THEIR WAY TO THE RITERTITLE MOUNTAINS
THE AKOND OF SWAT.
THE BOUNTIFUL BEETLE
THE BROOM, THE SHOVEL, THE POKER, AND THE TONGS.
THE CHILDREN OF THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
THE COMFORTABLE CONFIDENTIAL COW
THE COURTSHIP OF THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BÒ.
THE CUMMERBUND.
THE DADDY LONG-LEGS AND THE FLY.
THE DOLOMPHIOUS DUCK
THE DONG WITH A LUMINOUS NOSE.
THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO IN THE AUTOGRAPH OF EDWARD LEAR
THE DUCK AND THE KANGAROO.
THE ENTHUSIASTIC ELEPHANT
THE EXCELLENT DOUBLE-EXTRA XX
THE FIZZGIGGIOUS FISH
THE GOOD-NATURED GREY GULL
THE HASTY HIGGELDIPIGGLEDY HEN
THE HERALDIC BLAZON OF FOSS THE CAT
THE INVENTIVE INDIAN
THE JUDICIOUS JUBILANT JAY
THE JUMBLIES.
THE KICKING KANGAROO
THE LIVELY LEARNED LOBSTER
THE MELODIOUS MERITORIOUS MOUSE
THE NEW VESTMENTS.
THE NUTCRACKERS AND THE SUGAR-TONGS.
THE NUTRITIOUS NEWT
THE OBSEQUIOUS ORNAMENTAL OSTRICH
THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT.
THE PELICAN CHORUS.
THE PERPENDICULAR PURPLE POLLY
THE POBBLE WHO HAS NO TOES.
THE QUANGLE WANGLE’S HAT.
THE QUEER QUERULOUS QUAIL
THE RURAL RUNCIBLE RAVEN
THE SCROOBIOUS PIP
THE SCROOBIOUS SNAKE
THE TABLE AND THE CHAIR.
THE TUMULTUOUS TOM-TOMMY TORTOISE
THE TWO OLD BACHELORS.
THE UMBRAGEOUS UMBRELLA-MAKER
THE VISIBLY VICIOUS VULTURE
THE WORRYING WHIZZING WASP
THE YONGHY-BONGHY-BO
THE ZIGZAG ZEALOUS ZEBRA
THERE IS A YOUNG LADY, WHOSE NOSE
THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL OF MAJORCA
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY IN BLUE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY IN WHITE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF BUTE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF CLARE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF CORSICA
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF DORKING
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF FIRLE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF GREENWICH
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF HULL
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF LUCCA
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF NORWAY
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF PARMA
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF POOLE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF PORTUGAL
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF RUSSIA
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF RYDE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF SWEDEN
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TROY
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TURKEY
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF TYRE
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF WALES
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY OF WELLING
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE BONNET
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE CHIN
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE EYES
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY WHOSE NOSE
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN GREEN
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN PINK
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON IN RED
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF AYR
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF BANTRY
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF CRETE
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF JANINA
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF KEW
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON OF SMYRNA
THERE WAS A YOUNG PERSON WHOSE HISTORY
THERE WAS AN OLD DERRY DOWN DERRY
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF CHERTSEY
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF FRANCE
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF PRAGUE
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF WINCHELSEA
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHOSE FOLLY
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AT A JUNCTION
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN AT A STATION
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A BARGE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A BOAT
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A CASEMENT
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A GARDEN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A MARSH
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A PEW
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A TREE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN IN A TREE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF ANCONA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF AÔSTA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF APULIA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BERLIN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BLACKHEATH
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BOHEMIA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF BOULAK
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CALCUTTA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CAPE HORN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CASHMERE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF COBLENZ
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF COLUMBIA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF CORFU
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DEE-SIDE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUMBLANE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUMBREE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNDEE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNLUCE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF DUNROSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF EL HUMS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF HONG KONG
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF IBREEM
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF JAMAICA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF KAMSCHATKA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF KILKENNY
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF LEGHORN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MADRAS
THERE WAS AN OLD
MAN OF MARSEILLES
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MELROSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MESSINA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF MOLDAVIA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF NEPAUL
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PERU
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PERU.
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF PORT GRIGOR
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF QUEBEC, —
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF SPITHEAD
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF TH’ ABRUZZI
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THAMES DITTON
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE CAPE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE COAST
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE DARGLE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE DEE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE EAST
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE HAGUE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE ISLES
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE NILE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE NORTH
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE SOUTH
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WEST
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WEST
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THE WREKIN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THERMOPYLAE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF THREE BRIDGES
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF TOULOUSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF VESUVIUS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF VIENNA
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF WEST DUMPET
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN OF WHITEHAVEN
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON A HILL
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON SOME ROCKS
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON THE BORDER
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON THE HUMBER
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ON WHOSE NOSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO FELT PERT
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “HOW
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “HUSH!
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SAID, “WELL!
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SCREAMED OUT
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHO SUPPOSED
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHOSE DESPAIR
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WHOSE REMORSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A BEARD
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A FLUTE, —
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A GONG
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A NOSE
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH A POKER
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN WITH AN OWL
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN, WHO WHEN LITTLE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN BLACK
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON IN GRAY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ANERLEY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BANGOR
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BAR
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BARNES
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BASING
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BLYTHE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BOW
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRAY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BREE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRIGG
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BRILL
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BROMLEY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BUDA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BUDE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF BURTON
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CADIZ
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CANNES
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CASSEL
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHEADLE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHESTER
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHILI
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CHINA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CROMER
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF CROWLE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DEAL
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DEAN
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DOVER
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DOWN
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DUNDALK
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF DUTTON
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EALING
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EMS
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF EWELL
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FIFE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FILEY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF FLORENCE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF GRANGE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF GRETNA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HOVE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HURST
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF HYDE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ICKLEY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF ISCHIA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF JODD
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF LEEDS
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF LOO
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF MINETY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF MOLD
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF NEWRY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF NICE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PAXO
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PETT
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PHILŒ
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PINNER
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PISA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PRAGUE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF PUTNEY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RHEIMS
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RHODES
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RIMINI
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF RYE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SARK
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SESTRI
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHEEN
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHIELDS
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SHOREHAM
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SKYE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SLOUGH
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SPAIN
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF SPARTA
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF STROUD
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TARTARY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TRING
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF TROY
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WARE
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WICK
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WILTS
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON OF WOKING
THERE WAS AN OLD PERSON WHOSE HABITS
WHEN “GRAND OLD MEN” PERSIST IN FOLLY
Selected Paintings
Monte Generoso, located on the border between Switzerland and Italy and between Lake Lugano and Lake Como. Between 1878 and 1883, Lear spent his summers on Monte Generoso and his celebrated oil painting ‘The Plains of Lombardy’ is a product of this creative period.
LIST OF ARTWORKS
Animal Illustrations
Ara macao
Psitteuteles versicolor
Vini kuhlii
Wood pigeon
Common Pheasant
Lear MaguariStork
Anodorhynchus leari
Psittacula torquata
Agapornis swindernianus
Agapornis taranta
Cock of the Wood
Tortoise litograph
Chelonoidis denticulata
Landscape Paintings
Reggio calabria
Masada (or Sebbeh) on the Dead Sea
Lear petra wadi bushes 1858
Civita Castellana
Petra wadi bushes, sketch, 1858
Lear petra 1859
Nuneham
The Pyramids Road, Gizah
Howatke, 1858
The Falls of the Kalama Albania 1851
The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso
Animal Illustrations
Ara macao
Psitteuteles versicolor
Vini kuhlii
Wood pigeon
Common Pheasant
Lear MaguariStork
Anodorhynchus leari
Psittacula torquata
Agapornis swindernianus
Agapornis taranta
Cock of the Wood
Tortoise litograph
Chelonoid
is denticulata
Landscape Paintings
Reggio calabria
Masada (or Sebbeh) on the Dead Sea
Lear petra wadi bushes 1858
Civita Castellana
Petra wadi bushes, sketch, 1858
Lear petra 1859
Nuneham
The Pyramids Road, Gizah
Howatke, 1858
The Falls of the Kalama Albania 1851
The Plains of Lombardy from Monte Generoso
The Biography
Stratford Place, Westminster, London — Lear’s home and studio from 1859 till 1868
The plaque commemorating Lear’s studio in Westminster
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY by Franklin Lushington
EDWARD LEAR (1812-1888), English artist and humorist, was born in London on the 12th of May 1812. His earliest drawings were ornithological. When he was twenty years old he published a brilliantly coloured selection of the rarer Psittacidae. Its power attracted the attention of the 13th earl of Derby, who employed Lear to draw his Knowsley menagerie. He became a permanent favourite with the Stanley family; and Edward, 15th earl, was the child for whose amusement the first Book of Nonsense was composed. From birds, Lear turned to landscape, his earliest efforts in which recall the manner of J. D. Harding; but he quickly acquired a more individual style. About 1837 he set up a studio at Rome, where he lived for ten years, with summer tours in Italy and Sicily, and occasional visits to England. During this period he began to publish his Illustrated Journals of a Landscape Painter: charmingly written reminiscences of wandering, which ultimately embraced Calabria, the Abruzzi, Albania, Corsica, &c. From 1848-1849 he explored Greece, Constantinople, the Ionian Islands, Lower Egypt, the wildest recesses of Albania, and the desert of Sinai. He returned to London, but the climate did not suit him. In 1854-1855 he wintered on the Nile, and migrated successively to Corfu, Malta and Rome, finally building himself a villa at San Remo. From Corfu Lear visited Mount Athos, Syria, Palestine, and Petra; and when over sixty, by the assistance of Lord Northbrook, then Governor-General, he saw the cities and scenery of greatest interest within a large area of India. From first to last he was, in whatever circumstances of difficulty or ill-health, an indomitable traveller.