ear had visited Corfu in 1848 but his main period of residence there begun in December 1855 when he accompanied his freind Franklin Lushington on hi appointment as Judge to the Supreme Court of the Ionian Islands, under British protection until 1864, when Lear finally left except for a brief visit in 1877. This watercolour shows the view across the entrance of the Hyllain harbour with the islands of Vlakhenia and Pondikonisi. The latter was the inspiration for Böcklin's Sole of the Dead. An earlier view taken from further to the left is dated 28 December 1855 and there is a further undated view (repr. P Herrard, ed., Edward Lear, The Corfu Years: A Chronicle presented through his letters and Journals, 1988, pp. 50 and 60 representatively).

Lear's joined for 15 February 1856 describes the occasion of this drawing: 'Then I walked on until I came to the Karoni Cliffs, where you see the little island called Ulysses' ship - & very alarming it is: I made 2 drawings there today. There are 2 islands - I don't know which is the ship ... The nearer is a mere church & walls - the further a larger rock island: I have never been there yet but Frank & I will go some day. Well, I finished my 2 drawings, & yet it was only 5.10 ...'. (Sheward, op.cit., p. 60)