Portrait of John Varley

John Varley: Catalogue of the 100 Most Famous Paintings

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 150 works by John Varley in our catalogue

Summary

Nazeing, Essex, (1805) is recorded as the most famous painting of John Varley. Watermill With Distant Castle And Hills, (1822) and Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey. (1842) occupy the second and third entries. Of the 150 works by John Varley recorded in the catalogue, the 100 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.

1778 – 1842, Hackney Romanticism Most works: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Nazeing, Essex, (1805) by John Varley1. Nazeing, Essex, 1805 Watermill With Distant Castle And Hills, (1822) by John Varley2. Watermill With Distant Castle And Hills, 1822 Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey. (1842) by John Varley3. Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey. 1842

Entries 1 to 10: the most famous John Varley paintings

John Varley, further entries: 11 to 100

11An Arch at Holy Island, Northumberland, (1809) by John VarleyAn Arch at Holy Island, Northumberland,1809 12Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, (1811) by John VarleyCheyne Walk, Chelsea,1811 13A View Of The Thames At Millbank, (1815) by John VarleyA View Of The Thames At Millbank,1815 14Scotch Church And The Remains Of London Wall, (1818) by John VarleyScotch Church And The Remains Of London Wall,1818 15Hove church, (1824) by John VarleyHove church,1824 16Landscape (1835) by John VarleyLandscape1835 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 17Sunset at Harlech Castle, (1840) by John VarleySunset at Harlech Castle,1840 18Cader Idris From Barmouth, Wales by John VarleyCader Idris From Barmouth, Wales 19Figures On A Beach, A Fishing Village Beyond by John VarleyFigures On A Beach, A Fishing Village Beyond 20Buildings And Pollarded Trees On The Banks by John VarleyBuildings And Pollarded Trees On The Banks 21Brecon Castle by John VarleyBrecon Castle 22River Scene by John VarleyRiver Scene 23Coldharbour Lane, Brixton by John VarleyColdharbour Lane, Brixton 24Lake in Snowdonia by John VarleyLake in Snowdonia 25Near Dolgelly, North Wales by John VarleyNear Dolgelly, North Wales 26Conway Castle, Wales by John VarleyConway Castle, Wales 27Landscape With Figures And Distant Castle by John VarleyLandscape With Figures And Distant Castle 28Harlech Castle by John VarleyHarlech Castle 29Study Of Snowdon, Wales by John VarleyStudy Of Snowdon, Wales 30Resting In The Shade Of A Tree, A Castle Beyond by John VarleyResting In The Shade Of A Tree, A Castle Beyond 31Cliffs At Trimmingham by John VarleyCliffs At Trimmingham 32A View Of Harlech Castle, Across Traeth Mawr, Wales by John VarleyA View Of Harlech Castle, Across Traeth Mawr, Wales 33Conway Castle_2 by John VarleyConway Castle_2 34Figures resting on a hillside with a church spire by John VarleyFigures resting on a hillside with a church spire 35St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall by John VarleySt. Michael's Mount, Cornwall 36The Ford by John VarleyThe Ford 37View of snowdon, north wales by John VarleyView of snowdon, north wales 38Landscape by John VarleyLandscape 39Figures And Sheep On A Lane, By Tal-y-llyn Lake, Near Cader Idris, North Wales by John VarleyFigures And Sheep On A Lane, By Tal-y-llyn Lake, Near Cader Idris, North Wales 40Holy island by John VarleyHoly island 41Chepstow castle by John VarleyChepstow castle 42Battersea From The Banks Of The Thames by John VarleyBattersea From The Banks Of The Thames 43Tegwin Ferry, Snowdon From Near Harlech by John VarleyTegwin Ferry, Snowdon From Near Harlech 44Lake Scene by John VarleyLake Scene 45A Street With Old Houses, A Windmill Beyond by John VarleyA Street With Old Houses, A Windmill Beyond 46Tegwin Ferry with Snowdon in the Distance by John VarleyTegwin Ferry with Snowdon in the Distance 47Landscape_2 by John VarleyLandscape_2 48On The Thames, Possibly At Hammersmith by John VarleyOn The Thames, Possibly At Hammersmith 49Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe by John VarleyKilchurn Castle, Loch Awe 50Near handborough, oxon by John VarleyNear handborough, oxon 51Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland by John VarleyBamburgh Castle, Northumberland 52Warwick Castle by John VarleyWarwick Castle 53London From Greenwich Observatory by John VarleyLondon From Greenwich Observatory 54Castle Ruins At Dusk by John VarleyCastle Ruins At Dusk 55A Shepherd By A Tree-lined Pond by John VarleyA Shepherd By A Tree-lined Pond 56Cader Idris by John VarleyCader Idris 57Boys Fishing by John VarleyBoys Fishing 58On The Thames At Twickenham by John VarleyOn The Thames At Twickenham 59Figures By A Cottage by John VarleyFigures By A Cottage 60Harlech Castle, With Snowdon In The Distance by John VarleyHarlech Castle, With Snowdon In The Distance 61Aberystwyth by John VarleyAberystwyth 62Vauxhall Bridge by John VarleyVauxhall Bridge 63Harlech castle from the water by John VarleyHarlech castle from the water 64Machynlleth, Powys, From The River Dovey, Wales by John VarleyMachynlleth, Powys, From The River Dovey, Wales 65A Claudian Capriccio by John VarleyA Claudian Capriccio 66Landscape With Harlech Castle by John VarleyLandscape With Harlech Castle 67Harlech castle, north wales by John VarleyHarlech castle, north wales 68Conway Castle, North Wales by John VarleyConway Castle, North Wales 69Figures And Sheep Before A Viaduct by John VarleyFigures And Sheep Before A Viaduct 70High Street, Conway by John VarleyHigh Street, Conway 71Tintern abbey, wales by John VarleyTintern abbey, wales 72Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe - by John VarleyKilchurn Castle, Loch Awe - 73Pests' Houses, Tothill Fields by John VarleyPests' Houses, Tothill Fields 74A Fishing Boat Drawn Up On Hastings Beach by John VarleyA Fishing Boat Drawn Up On Hastings Beach 75Harewood House from the South East by John VarleyHarewood House from the South East 76Frognal, Hampstead, C.1825 by John VarleyFrognal, Hampstead, C.1825 77On the wye by John VarleyOn the wye 78Shepherds Before A Fortified Headland by John VarleyShepherds Before A Fortified Headland 79A Castle In A River Landscape by John VarleyA Castle In A River Landscape 80Sheep Grazing Before A Hillside Village On The Coast by John VarleySheep Grazing Before A Hillside Village On The Coast 81Moel Hebog, Looking Down The Vale From Near Dinas Emrys by John VarleyMoel Hebog, Looking Down The Vale From Near Dinas Emrys 82View of dolgellau, north wales by John VarleyView of dolgellau, north wales 83Caernarvon castle, north wales by John VarleyCaernarvon castle, north wales 84View of Eton College by John VarleyView of Eton College 85A Coastal Scene With Fisherfolk And Beached Vessels Beyond by John VarleyA Coastal Scene With Fisherfolk And Beached Vessels Beyond 86Cairo from the South by John VarleyCairo from the South 87Looking Down The High Street, Conway by John VarleyLooking Down The High Street, Conway 88A martello tower on the south coast by John VarleyA martello tower on the south coast 89The Straits Of Gibraltar by John VarleyThe Straits Of Gibraltar 90On the terrace by John VarleyOn the terrace 91Twickenham Church, Middlesex by John VarleyTwickenham Church, Middlesex 92Baddgelert Bridge by John VarleyBaddgelert Bridge 93Thames near windsor by John VarleyThames near windsor 94York Minster from near the Ship Builders by John VarleyYork Minster from near the Ship Builders 95A Classical Landscape by John VarleyA Classical Landscape 96A View In The Pass Of Llanberis by John VarleyA View In The Pass Of Llanberis 97City On A River by John VarleyCity On A River 98Battersea And Chelsea From Millbank, London by John VarleyBattersea And Chelsea From Millbank, London 99A Thames barge beached for unloading by John VarleyA Thames barge beached for unloading 100A Figure in a Wooded Landscape by John VarleyA Figure in a Wooded Landscape

Principal subjects in the work of John Varley

The four subjects most frequently represented among these works, each with its best-known example.

Buildings 23 works

Redland castle, (1805), John Varley #8 Redland castle, 1805 Scotch Church And The Remains Of London Wall, (1818), John Varley #14 Scotch Church And The Remains Of London Wall, 1818 Sunset at Harlech Castle, (1840), John Varley #17 Sunset at Harlech Castle, 1840 Buildings And Pollarded Trees On The Banks, John Varley #20 Buildings And Pollarded Trees On The Banks

Landscape 12 works

An Arch at Holy Island, Northumberland, (1809), John Varley #11 An Arch at Holy Island, Northumberland, 1809 Conway Castle, Wales, John Varley #26 Conway Castle, Wales Landscape With Figures And Distant Castle, John Varley #27 Landscape With Figures And Distant Castle Harlech Castle, John Varley #28 Harlech Castle

Rivers 9 works

A View Of The Thames At Millbank, (1815), John Varley #13 A View Of The Thames At Millbank, 1815 River Scene, John Varley #22 River Scene Battersea From The Banks Of The Thames, John Varley #42 Battersea From The Banks Of The Thames On The Thames, Possibly At Hammersmith, John Varley #48 On The Thames, Possibly At Hammersmith

Scenes 6 works

A View Of Harlech Castle, Across Traeth Mawr, Wales, John Varley #32 A View Of Harlech Castle, Across Traeth Mawr, Wales Lake Scene, John Varley #44 Lake Scene A Coastal Scene With Fisherfolk And Beached Vessels Beyond, John Varley #85 A Coastal Scene With Fisherfolk And Beached Vessels Beyond A View In The Pass Of Llanberis, John Varley #96 A View In The Pass Of Llanberis

John Varley: holding museums

The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by John Varley Paintings from this list
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.Smithsonian American Art Museum Washington, D.C. 2 Small Landscape (Dutch), Landscape

Decade index: the principal John Varley painting of each

Works per decade

Select a decade to display its principal painting.

Questions frequently consulted on John Varley's paintings

What is the best-known work of John Varley?Display the answer

Nazeing, Essex, (1805). The following entries are Watermill With Distant Castle And Hills, (1822) and Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey. (1842).

How old was John Varley in the year of Nazeing, Essex,?Display the answer

27 years: John Varley was born in 1778 and Nazeing, Essex, is dated 1805.

What are the ten best-known works by John Varley?Display the answer

Nazeing, Essex,, Watermill With Distant Castle And Hills,, Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey., Pass of Llanberis,, On the Avon near Clifton,, Small Landscape (Dutch), View of Chester,, Redland castle,, Eton from Crown Corner, and Children swimming under Ouse Bridge in York,. The list above records the date and holding museum of each.

How many works by John Varley does the catalogue record?Display the answer

The catalogue records 150 works by John Varley, dated between 1803 and 1842.

Where are the principal works of John Varley held?Display the answer

Principally in Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.). The museum table above gives the full distribution.

During which period did John Varley produce the best-known works?Display the answer

In 1800s: 7 of the 100 works listed on this page are dated to that period, including Nazeing, Essex,.

What are the earliest and latest best-known works by John Varley?Display the answer

The earliest dated work listed here is Pass of Llanberis, (1803); the latest is Red House Mill, Battersea, Surrey. (1842).

What subjects did John Varley treat most often?Display the answer

Buildings (23), Landscape (12) and Rivers (9), out of the 100 works listed on this page.

To which art movement is John Varley attributed?Display the answer

Romanticism, as documented by the works on this page.

Which paintings by John Varley does the Smithsonian American Art Museum hold?Display the answer

Small Landscape (Dutch) and Landscape are among the 2 works on this page in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C..

Biography of John Varley

John Varley I (1778–1842): Painter of Tranquility and Blake Collaborator

John Varley I (1778-1842) stands as a quietly influential figure in British watercolour painting, remembered primarily for his exquisitely rendered landscapes imbued with serene beauty and his significant partnership with William Blake. Born in Hackney, London, Varley’s artistic journey began amidst the burgeoning Romantic movement, shaping him into one of its most consistent practitioners—a painter who eschewed dramatic gesture for meticulous observation and understated tonal harmonies.
  • Early Life & Education: Little is known about Varley's formative years beyond his birthplace and familial connections. He received a formal education at Eton College, preparing him for a life of scholarship and artistic pursuits. However, it was his fascination with astrology that would intertwine with his visual art, influencing his compositional choices and reflecting a broader interest in the interconnectedness of natural phenomena and human experience.
  • The Old Watercolour Society & Artistic Innovation: Varley’s contribution to British art history is cemented by his role as one of the founders of the Old Watercolour Society in 1803. This institution championed watercolour painting as a medium for artistic expression, prioritizing tonal subtlety and atmospheric perspective—techniques that characterized Varley's distinctive style. He deliberately avoided bold colours and dramatic brushstrokes, favoring instead delicate washes and precise delineation to capture the essence of his subjects.

A Landscape Visionary: Style & Technique

Varley’s landscapes are instantly recognizable for their remarkable calmness and luminous quality. His meticulous attention to detail—particularly in depicting foliage, rocks, and water surfaces—demonstrates a profound understanding of topographical accuracy combined with an artistic sensitivity to light and colour. He achieved this ethereal effect through the masterful use of ‘flat washes,’ applying translucent layers of pigment to create subtle gradations of tone that convey mood and atmosphere with remarkable precision. This technique was particularly evident in his depictions of coastal scenes, where he skillfully captured the interplay of sunlight on water and rock formations.
  • Blake Collaboration: Varley’s artistic connection with William Blake extends beyond mere coincidence; they were close friends who shared intellectual interests and corresponded regularly. Blake's visionary imagination profoundly impacted Varley’s aesthetic sensibilities, encouraging him to explore themes of spirituality and symbolism within his landscapes. Their collaboration resulted in several paintings inspired by Blake’s poetic imagery, cementing their place as kindred spirits in the artistic landscape of their time.
  • Notable Works: Among Varley's celebrated canvases are “On the Adriatic,” a breathtaking depiction of the Dalmatian coast showcasing Preti’s influence and “Yr Ogof Windmill”, capturing the rugged beauty of Snowdonia National Park. These works exemplify Varley’s commitment to portraying natural grandeur with understated elegance, establishing him as one of the foremost watercolourists of his era.

Legacy & Historical Significance

John Varley I's influence on British landscape painting persists today. His unwavering dedication to tonal harmony and meticulous observation established a precedent for subsequent generations of artists who sought to capture the sublime qualities of nature with sensitivity and precision. Furthermore, his association with Blake underscores the importance of intellectual engagement alongside artistic practice—a testament to Varley’s enduring legacy as both a painter and a visionary thinker. His contribution to the Old Watercolour Society ensured that watercolour remained a respected medium for artistic expression, fostering a tradition of understated beauty that continues to inspire artists worldwide.

Further Exploration

For deeper insights into John Varley I's life and work, consider visiting Conventual Church of St John, Malta, where you can admire Mattia Preti’s paintings alongside Varley’s serene landscapes. Alternatively, explore St John's College, Cambridge to appreciate the architectural grandeur and scholarly tradition that shaped Varley’s artistic worldview.
All 150 works by John Varley →