Lear Begins Working as an Illustrator at Fifteen
Poet involved
What happened
At the age of fifteen, in London, England, Edward Lear began earning money by producing detailed drawings for hire, including anatomical and bird illustrations for hospitals and private patrons. Lacking formal artistic training, he developed his precise draughtsmanship largely through self-directed observation of nature. This early independence marked the start of his lifelong career as a professional artist.
Literary impact
The discipline of exacting scientific illustration honed Lear's eye for comic exaggeration and precise visual detail, skills he later turned toward the absurd creatures and whimsical scenes of his nonsense books.
Source: Wikipedia
