In Tate Britain
Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- John Varley 1778–1842
- Medium
- Watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 82 x 130 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
- Reference
- T09326
Display caption
Like many of his contemporaries, Varley was greatly interested
in spontaneous methods of inventing compositions. This little study appears
to be entirely impromptu, and can
be related to the random ‘blots’ that Varley and others used to prompt
their designs. Nonetheless, the key elements of balanced and classical Claudian landscape are in place.
Claude’s landscapes, with their tranquil lakes, castles and limpid light, were admired immensely. They provided artists with a set of conventions
that were applied to depictions
of the national landscape.
Gallery label, September 2004
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