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

St Alkmund's Church, Shrewsbury

Details

John Varley, O.W.S. (London 1778-1842)
St Alkmund's Church, Shrewsbury
signed 'J. VARLEY' (lower left, on a stool)
pencil and watercolour, watermark '1801/J WHATMAN'
14 x 11½ in. (35.5 x 29.2 cm.)

Provenance

R.J. Newall, and by descent to
N.B. Newall; Christie's, London, 13-14 December 1979, lot 80.
with Davis & Langdale, New York.

Literature

A. Bury, John Varley of the 'Old Society', Leigh-on-Sea, 1946, p. 83, pl. 20.

Exhibited

(Possibly) London, Royal Academy, 1803, no. 380, as 'View of St
Orkmond's Church, Shrewsbury'.
London, W/S Fine Art, Summer 2008, no. 16.
London, W/S Fine Art, Summer 2009, no. 36.

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Lot Essay

A further version of this subject, of almost the same size, was in the Nettlefold Collection (photograph, Witt Library). It is not clear which of the two was the Royal Academy exhibit, but the present watercolour is undoubtedly the earlier version and the one that more accurately reflects the view as Varley originally saw it.

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