Cornelius Varley (London 1781-1873)

The present watercolour is the view from The Glyders, which are close by to the north east, The Crib Goch ridge or Red Ridge is on the left and the top of the Llanberis Pass is depicted in the foreground. Wales and North Wales in particular held enormous appeal for artists working during the early years of the 19th Century in search of inspiration. Varley visited Wales on a number of occasions notably in 1802, 1803, 1805 and 1820. Although clearly inspired by the dramatic mountainous landscapes that he found, it was the atmospheric effects and play of light and shadow on landscape that proved equally if not more captivating. During his 1803 tour, which he undertook in the company of Joshua Cristall (1767-1847), Varley became interested in the geological formation of the mountains and landscapes, as seen in the present drawing, with its clear emphasis on the geological characteristics and the interplay of atmospheric effects on these.