Irish cars (Study of two carts in a landscape)
An inscription at lower left indicates that Varley made this drawing in Ireland. Two hand-carts made out of rough planks rest at different angles in a rural yard near a two-storey building, with small structures roofed in tile and thatch beyond. Pen and ink over graphite has been applied to describe the buildings and landscape, with wash added to detail the carts. Brother to the well-known watercolor teacher John Varley, Cornelius was himself a skilled draftsman and watercolorist, and became known for inventing the Graphic Telescope, an optical device that helped artists achieve correct perspective.
Artwork Details
- Title: Irish cars (Study of two carts in a landscape)
- Artist: Cornelius Varley (British, London 1781–1873 London)
- Date: 1800–73
- Medium: Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite
- Dimensions: 10 1/8 x 14 5/16 in. (25.7 x 36.4 cm)
- Classification: Drawings
- Credit Line: Gift of Roberta J. M. Olson and Alexander B. V. Johnson, in memory of Professor and Mrs. E. Dudley H. Johnson, 2007
- Object Number: 2007.537.3
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.