THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR (Lots 1218-1237) These watercolours are from a private British collection carefully assembled by a keen collector of Golden Age Watercolours over the last thirty years as a reaction against the growing urbanisation of the countryside and the growing taste for abstract, contemporary art, and with the desire to preserve and enjoy the picturesque landscape of the past. The watercolours in this collection, by many of Britain's most celebrated exponents of the medium, record an impressive diversity of the much-loved and familiar landscape and its inhabitants, illustrating the countryside and coastline in wind, rain and glorious sunshine.

John Varley, O.W.S. (London 1778-1842)

The Thames at Chiswick

Details

John Varley, O.W.S. (London 1778-1842)
The Thames at Chiswick
signed and dated 'J. Varley. 1814' (lower right) and signed, dated and indistinctly inscribed 'Chiswick John Varley 1814' in pen and ink (verso) and 'Chiswick J. Varley 1814' and 'Varley. No 5 Broad S^t Golden Square' (on the reverse of the sheet)
pencil and watercolour with gum arabic, unframed
9 1/8 x 18 7/8 in. (23.2 x 48.0 cm.)

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 7 June 2006, lot 351, where purchased by the present owner.

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Lot Essay

The Thames at Chiswick was one of John Varley's favourite subjects, focusing upon the tower of St Nicholas in the distance. Each watercolour was given its own individuality through the placing of boats and figures on the water, and through the depiction of differing times of day. There are other examples of his views of Chiswick in notable public institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven.

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