Cornelius Varley

The younger brother of fellow watercolorist John Varley, Cornelius Varley was born in Hackney. His uncle Samuel Varley was a jeweler who also made scientific instruments and provided him with training in both the natural sciences and the construction of related equipment. This early study informed Varley’s subsequent approach to observing and representing landscapes when he decided to reinvent himself as an artist. He began earning his living primarily through work as a drawing master. He then traveled to Wales with his brother and other artists in 1803, returning for a second solo trip in 1805. In 1803 he also helped found the Water-Colour Society and remained a member until 1821, during which time he regularly contributed to their exhibitions. Through mid-century he also occasionally exhibited at the Royal Academy. Scientific perspective was central to his artistic output, as Varley used lens and made improvements to instruments such as the camera obscura when producing his highly-finished views of classical subjects. For this work he received several medals from the Society of Arts, including the Isis gold medal in 1841 for his work on microscopes. He lived and worked in and around London until his death in 1873.