John Varley (painter) facts for kids
John Varley (born August 17, 1778 – died November 17, 1842) was a famous English watercolour painter. He was also an astrologer and a good friend of the poet and artist William Blake. They even worked together on a book called Visionary Heads. John Varley wrote the book, and Blake drew the pictures.
John was the oldest of a family of artists. His brothers, Cornelius Varley and William Fleetwood Varley, were also artists. His sister Elizabeth married another painter, William Mulready.
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Life of a Painter and Teacher
John Varley was born in Hackney, London, in 1778. His parents did not want him to become an artist at first. They made him work for a silversmith. But after his parents passed away, he worked for a portrait painter for a short time.
When he was about 15 or 16, John became a student of Joseph Charles Barrow. Barrow taught drawing classes in the evenings. Barrow took Varley on a trip to Peterborough to sketch. This trip helped John become a professional painter.
In 1798, he showed a great drawing of Peterborough Cathedral at the Royal Academy. He kept showing his art there until a new group, the Old Watercolour Society, started in 1805. John was one of the people who helped start this new society.
Exploring Wales and Finding Inspiration
In 1799, John Varley visited North Wales. He loved the wild mountains and found many ideas for his paintings there. He went back to Wales in 1800 and again in 1802. The beautiful scenery he saw there greatly influenced his art for the rest of his life.
He married Esther Gisborne in London in 1803.
A Successful Teacher and Artist
John Varley showed more than 700 paintings at the Old Watercolour Society. He also became a very successful drawing teacher. Many famous artists learned from him, including Copley Fielding, David Cox, John Linnell, and William Turner (artist) of Oxford.
Even though he was successful, John often had money problems. This was because he had a large family and was not very good with business. Varley was known for his skill in using thin layers of watercolour paint. This helped him create calm and thoughtful moods in his art.
He also wrote books about art. These included A Treatise on the Principles of Landscape Drawing (1816–21) and A Practical Treatise on the Art of Drawing in Perspective. He even wrote a book about astrological ideas called A Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy in 1828.
John Varley is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery in London.
Varley's Art Style
John Varley's landscape paintings often feel graceful and serious. He used simple and broad strokes with his brush. He liked to use pure, clear watercolour paints without mixing them with other colours.
His paintings are well-planned and have excellent compositions. Some of his earlier watercolours, like his "Views of the Thames," were painted right on the spot. These paintings show more unique details. Later, he mainly painted mountain and lake scenes from his imagination, rather than directly from nature.
See also
In Spanish: John Varley (pintor) para niños
- List of British artists
