In Tate Britain
Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- John Varley 1778–1842
- Medium
- Watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 108 × 144 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
- Reference
- T09321
Display caption
Varley was the most sought-after drawing master of his time and the author of several drawing manuals. He wrote: 'The true exercise of art consists in contrasting the round with the square, the light with the dark, the hard with the soft, the far with the near.' 'Blots' provided Varley with a quick and effective method for working out imaginary landscape compositions which met these requirements. He has used broad, quickly applied washes boldly to suggest the trees and riverbank, leaving the white of the paper to act as the highlights.
Gallery label, August 2004
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