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Lot 206
John Varley, O.W.S. (London 1778-1842)
Fifty-four portrait drawings including: John Girtin (b. 1773); Probably Thomas Webster (1800-1886) (illustrated); Delvalle Lowry (1762-1825); Mrs Havell; Mr Hewlett (1768-1826); Mr Wilson Lowry; Mr Blane; Henry Ziegler (1798-1874); Mr Mason; Mr Webster; Mr Sheffield; Colonel Landman; John Fleetwood and others
Closed6 December 2012
Price Realised
GBP 3,500
More Information
Specialist note
The fifty-one unframed drawings were part of a disbound album. Two different kinds of instrument were used by John and Cornelius Varley, in the production of landscape drawings and portraits. The first was a camera lucida, patented in 1806 by William Hyde Wollaston (1766-1828). The second instrument was created by Cornelius Varley himself and patented in June 1811 as Varley's Patent Graphic Telescope. One of the present portraits is inscribed 'Done in the Camera Lucida/June 16. 1810/by J. Varley' (no. 20); another, of Mr Holford of Hampstead, is inscribed 'Sketched with the Graphic Telescope June 3rd 1812' (no. 9).
The roll call of sitters gives us an interesting insight into Varley's social circle. On his third visit to Wales in 1802 John Varley was accompanied by Cornelius and the architect Thomas Webster. It was on this trip that Varley met Wilson Lowry, scientist and engraver, and his wife. Lowry's daughter Delvalle became John Varley's second wife in 1825. Ziegler was a pupil of John Varley, while Hewlett was a very successful flower painter and drawing master in Bath.
The roll call of sitters gives us an interesting insight into Varley's social circle. On his third visit to Wales in 1802 John Varley was accompanied by Cornelius and the architect Thomas Webster. It was on this trip that Varley met Wilson Lowry, scientist and engraver, and his wife. Lowry's daughter Delvalle became John Varley's second wife in 1825. Ziegler was a pupil of John Varley, while Hewlett was a very successful flower painter and drawing master in Bath.