Knaresborough Castle
Item
Title
Knaresborough Castle
Creator
John Varley
English, 1778–1842
English, 1778–1842
Date
1803
Materials
Watercolor
Measurements
10-7/16 x 14-1/2 in. (26.6 x 36.8 cm)
Description
John Varley first studied with Joseph Charles Barrow, attending his evening drawing classes as early as 1793. A more significant aspect of his training came through his participation in the “academy’ run by Dr. Thomas Monro, a noted physician and amateur painter who, beginning in 1794, offered weekly opportunities in his London home for promising young artists to copy from his large collection of drawings under the tutelage of watercolor masters such as J. R. Cozens and Thomas Hearne. At Monro’s, Varley associated with the leading watercolorists of his generation, including J. M. W. Turner and, perhaps most importantly, Thomas Girtin, whose manner Varley closely emulated.
Varley exhibited his work regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1798 until 1804, when, in response to the rather condescending attitude on the part of the Academy toward watercolor, he joined nine other like-minded artists in founding the Society of Painters in Water Colours. Over the next sixteen years, Varley showed exclusively with the Society, displaying more than 400 sheets during the period. Despite the prolific output, he became equally known as a generous master, teaching all comers, whether amateur or more serious minded. Peter De Wint and David Cox were among his many his students.
Varley exhibited his work regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1798 until 1804, when, in response to the rather condescending attitude on the part of the Academy toward watercolor, he joined nine other like-minded artists in founding the Society of Painters in Water Colours. Over the next sixteen years, Varley showed exclusively with the Society, displaying more than 400 sheets during the period. Despite the prolific output, he became equally known as a generous master, teaching all comers, whether amateur or more serious minded. Peter De Wint and David Cox were among his many his students.
Source
Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University
Identifier
75.46
Rights
This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted.