Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London

Cheyne Walk was named after the Lord of the Manor of Chelsea, Charles Cheyne (1625-1698). Varley captures the play of the shadows across the ground in his portrayal of this distinguished residential street. The watercolour is based on an earlier version, dated 1811, now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, inv.176-1894 (see C.M. Kauffmann, John Varley 1778-1842, London, 1984, p. 129, no. 31, illustrated in colour) and shows Chelsea Old Church with its wooden cupola (which had actually been removed in 1815); through the trees to the left, Battersea Old Bridge is visible.