John Varley (painter)

John Varley (August 17, 1778–November 17, 1842), 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 Cornelius Varley.

Life and Work

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. For a brief time John Varley was 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. 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 Turner of Oxford. Despite his success he was constantly in financial difficulties, "since he was both a hopeless businessman and by temperament something of a Micawber". (Mallalieu).

Publications

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.

Bibliography

Publications by John Varley

* A Treatise on the Principles of Landscape Drawing...
*A Practical Tratise on the Art of Drawing in Perspective:"adapted for the study of those who draw from nature; by which the usual errors can be avoided"; printed for Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper,...and R.Ackermann, ..., London ?1815/1820?
*A Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy, "illustrated by engravings of heads and features, and accompanied by tables of the time of rising of the twelve signs of the zodiac; and containing also new and astrological explanations of some remarkable portions of ancient mythological history"; published for the author, 10 1/2, Great Tichfield Street, London 1928; sold by Longman; IV, 60pp.: 6 Plates, (8vo), 25 cm; plates engraved by J.Linnell.

On John Varley

*C.M. Kauffmann, "John Varley", Batsford, 1984 (Contains a full bibliography, including manuscript sources);
*Randall Davies, "John Varley", "OWCS (Old Water Colour Society) Club Annual", II, 1924-5, pp 9-27;
*Adrian Bury, "John Varley of the Old Society", Leigh on Sea, 1946;
*Anne Lyles, "John Varley's Thames", "OWCS Club Annual", LXIII, 1994, pp 1-37;
*Huon Mallalieu, "The Dictionary of British Watercolour Artists, up to 1920", Antique Collectors' Club, 1976;
*John Ramm, "Neglected Master", "Antique Dealer & Collectors' Guide", Feb 1992, Vol 45, No. 7, (principally concerned with Joseph Charles Barrow).

ee also

*List of British artists

External links

* [http://skyscript.co.uk/ur_aq.html Varley's Work as an Astrologer]
* [http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ArtistWorks?cgroupid=999999961&artistid=569&page=1 Art works by John Varley (102 paintings and drawings), Tate Gallery, London]