Frederick Horsman Varley 1881 - 1969

Sotheby's, Toronto, October, 1977, lot 68

Private Collection, Ontario

Markham, Varley: A Celebration, The Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 1977, no. 62

Maria Tippett, Stormy Weather, F.H. Varley, A Biography, Toronto, 1998, p. 227

This painting is in excellent condition. Along the left side of the work there is slight rubbing from a previous frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Varley taught summer school in the picturesque rural area of Doon, Ontario, and he was there in the summers of 1948 and 1949, when this terrific oil sketch was painted. He kept a studio in Homer Watson's 19th century home, and was hugely popular with the students that he scattered throughout the countryside, encouraging their appreciation of higher art.

Among the members of the Group of Seven, Varley remains a sort of renegade. His artistic practice is certainly the most expressive and his comparatively nomadic lifestyle allowed varied landscapes to inspire and inform a vivid artistic trajectory.

Stylistically, Autumn Hills recalls the scenery that Varley painted in Lynn Valley, just north of Vancouver. The fierce, sophisticated palette, Varley's trademark, devours this hill in its autumnal glory. His moving sky is built of cyan and cerulean hues that vibrate against the warm tones of the land. The close trees, decorative arabesques in this instance, struggle to the foreground against the movement of earth, sky and falling leaves - depicted here with assured smacks of his brush. The entire composition is riveting.