Details
JOHN VARLEY, O.W.S. (LONDON 1778-1842)
A sketch of an angler in a mountainous landscape
pencil and watercolour on paper
918 x 1312 in. (23.2 x 33.7 cm.)
Exhibited
London, Martyn Gregory, An Exhibition of British Watercolours 1750-1940, cat. 75, 16 November - 3 December 1999, no. 35.
London, BADA, John Varley 1778-1842, 5-11 March 2008, no. 5.
Special notice
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Lot Essay

This preparatory sketch is a fascinating demonstration of Varley's process as an artist. Sheer layers of wash, in muted tones of blue and brown, map out the composition, creating depth, recession and atmosphere, while the pencil lines suggests trees and further detail which might be added to a finished composition. The landscape does not seem to correspond with a specific location and appears to have been created from his imagination.
For a note on the artist, please see lot 43.

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