Bamborough Castle from the Northeast, with Holy Island in the Distance, Northumberland

1827

Not on view

This evocative view encapsulates the type of finished landscape watercolor that made Varley's reputation. Picturesque details in the foreground include a family of fisherfolk walking towards their small vessel on a broad sandy shore, with the scene overshadowed by the impressive fortress of Bamborough (or Bamburgh) Castle, Northumberland. Rising over the North Sea, this landmark is accentuated by an open patch of blue sky, and its form echoed in miniature by the tiny silhouette of Holy Island in the right distance. Varley may have exhibited this drawing at the Old Water-Colour Society in 1828.

Artwork Details

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Title: Bamborough Castle from the Northeast, with Holy Island in the Distance, Northumberland
Artist: John Varley (British, London 1778–1842 London)
Date: 1827
Medium: Watercolor and graphite with scratching out
Dimensions: sheet: 7 3/8 x 10 1/4 in. (18.7 x 26 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. Cohen, Christie's Inc., and Jill Newhouse Gifts, 2003
Object Number: 2003.135
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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