UPDATED! The Gennadius Library's Clean Monday celebration in New York City will have a change of venue this year to Kellari Taverna and will be held on February 27, 2012. Festivities begin at 6:30 pm. and feature great food for the Lenten season, an auction, music and dancing! Read details here.
Lear Watercolors
Edward Lear is best known to the world as the author of such works as The Book of Nonsense, including the famous “Owl and the Pussycat,” and travel books. He was, however, by profession a landscape painter and the Gennadeion is fortunate to own two hundred of his Greek drawings. His sketches and watercolours are prized by collectors and observers for their spontaneity and almost impressionistic quality. His whimsical notes remind the viewer that this was the same Lear who wrote such delightful comic poetry. In 1929 a selection of 192 Lear sketches was offered to Joannes Gennadius, who persuaded the School to purchase them. The cost was 25 English pounds, about 75 pence each! Ten years later the Library was able to add another thirteen sketches to the collection (at a considerably higher price, it may be noted).