Artwork Page for Bray Church Yard

Details / Information for Bray Church Yard

Bray Church Yard

1807

John Varley

(British, 1778–1842)
Culture
England, 19th century
Medium
watercolor and graphite
Support
Thick, moderately textured beige wove paper
Measurements
Sheet: 24.9 x 36.9 cm (9 13/16 x 14 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of James Parmelee 1940.564
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

Although rare, John Varley's early watercolors are considered his most inspired work.

Description

The inscription on the reverse of this drawing, "Bray Church Yard-1807," likely refers to St. Michael’s, the parish church in the village of Bray on the banks of the Thames in the county of Berkshire. The banks of the lower Thames Valley provided the subject matter for many of John Varley’s early watercolors. His pursuit of the picturesque led the artist to turn his back on London and its connotations of commerce and industry, focusing instead on the rural aspects of the scene.
A horizontally oriented watercolor and graphite drawing on beige paper depicts a two-story timber-framed building in muted tans and browns. Center right, a gabled wing with exposed brick features a small figure with light skin tone standing in a shadowed doorway. To our left, a structure with a dark, sloped roof and tall chimneys stands beside it. Sketchy trees and graphite lines suggesting a fence frame the scene against the paper.

Bray Church Yard

1807

John Varley

(British, 1778–1842)
England, 19th century

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