Under the Ouse Bridge, Bathing (between 1803 and 1804)

John Varley was a prominent English watercolourist and astrologer, widely acknowledged for his pivotal role in shaping British landscape painting during the early 19th century. He was celebrated not only for his refined technique and the atmospheric qualities of his watercolours, but also for his work as a teacher and mentor to numerous artists who themselves rose to acclaim.

Among Varley's most remarkable partnerships was his collaboration with the visionary artist and poet William Blake. The two worked together on the book "Visionary Heads" between 1819 and 1820. This distinctive project reflected Varley's fascination with astrology and Blake's extraordinary talents as an illustrator, producing a series of imaginative portraits drawn from spiritual visions.

Born into an artistic family, Varley was the eldest among siblings who also pursued careers in the arts, such as Cornelius Varley, William Fleetwood Varley, and Elizabeth Varley. Elizabeth, in particular, married William Mulready, another prominent painter of the time, weaving Varley’s family even more tightly into the fabric of the British art community.

The scope of John Varley’s influence stretched well beyond his own artwork, as he inspired and instructed many emerging artists. His achievements in both painting and astrology established him as a unique and highly regarded presence within the cultural society of his era.