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John Varley
John Varley

John Varley

English, 1778-1842
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John Varley was an English watercolour painter and astrologer, and a close friend of William Blake. They collaborated in 1819–1820 on the book Visionary Heads, written by Varley and illustrated by Blake. He was the elder brother of a family of artists: Cornelius Varley, William Fleetwood Varley, and Elizabeth, who married the painter William Mulready.

John Varley was born at the Old Blue Post Tavern, Hackney, on 17 August 1778. His father, Richard Varley, born at Epworth in Lincolnshire, had settled in London after the death of his first wife in Yorkshire. His parents discouraged his leanings towards art, and placed him under a silversmith. But on their death he was for a brief time employed by a portrait painter in Holborn and then, at the age of 15 or 16, he became a pupil of Joseph Charles Barrow (fl. 1789–1802) who had an evening drawing school twice a week at 12 Furnival's Inn Court, Holborn. It was Barrow who took Varley on a sketching tour to Peterborough from which he emerged as a professional painter. In 1798 he exhibited a highly regarded sketch of Peterborough Cathedral at the Royal Academy and became a regular exhibitor at the RA until the foundation of the Old Watercolour Society in 1805.

In 1799 he visited North Wales, and in its wild mountain scenery found the subjects best suited to his brush. He returned to the same district in 1800, and again in 1802, and the impressions then received powerfully influenced the whole course of his art.

As one of the founders of the OWS, Varley exhibited largely there over 700 drawings. He also became a highly successful drawing master with pupils including Copley Fielding, David Cox, John Linnell and William Turner (artist) of Oxford. Despite his success, his growing family meant he was constantly in financial difficulties, "since he was both a hopeless businessman and by temperament something of a Micawber". (Mallalieu). Varley was particularly skilled at the laying of flat washes of watercolour which suited the placid, contemplative mood that he often sought to evoke.

Varley published A Treatise on the Principles of Landscape Drawing, 1816–21 and A Practical Treatise on the Art of Drawing in Perspective. He also wrote an astrological text (with illustrations) entitled A Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy in 1828.

He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.

105 items

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Mountain Landscape with Castle Ruins on a Cliff

Mountain Landscape with Castle Ruins on a Cliff

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Ouse Bridge, York

Ouse Bridge, York

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
River Landscape with Two Figures, Lake and Distant Mountains

River Landscape with Two Figures, Lake and Distant Mountains

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
River, Trees and Distant Town

River, Trees and Distant Town

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Romantic Composition

Romantic Composition

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Romantic Landscape with Cliffs and a Castle

Romantic Landscape with Cliffs and a Castle

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Romatic Landscape with a Castle and a Tree on the Right

Romatic Landscape with a Castle and a Tree on the Right

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Ships on a River with Buildings in the Distance

Ships on a River with Buildings in the Distance (ca. 1830)

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Study of Trees

Study of Trees

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
The Fisherman

The Fisherman

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Trees and Cottages at the Bend of a River

Trees and Cottages at the Bend of a River

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Trees on a Knoll by a Stream

Trees on a Knoll by a Stream (ca. 1830)

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Trees Overhanging a River

Trees Overhanging a River

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
Two Pack Horses

Two Pack Horses

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
A Putney bridge

A Putney bridge

John Varley (English, 1778-1842)
Drawings
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