Artwork
Mountainous Landscape : Afterglow
Mountainous Landscape : Afterglow is a watercolor work on paper by John Varley. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
John Varley’s 1850 watercolour titled *Mountainous Landscape: Afterglow* depicts a quiet scene at twilight. A modest group of fishermen work beside a small boat on a calm shore, while a distant range of hills and mountains rises under a sky washed in warm, golden light. The composition balances foreground activity with a tranquil, expansive backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a moment of everyday labor set against the grandeur of nature. The fishermen and their vessel suggest a modest livelihood, while the fading light and distant peaks evoke a sense of transition—from day to night—and the enduring presence of the landscape beyond human activity.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, Varley employs a restrained palette of soft, muted tones. Broad washes convey the luminous afterglow of sunset, while delicate brushwork defines the water’s surface and the foliage along the shore. The subtle gradations of colour create depth, allowing the distant mountains to recede gently into atmospheric perspective.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, the work belongs to the mid‑nineteenth‑century British watercolour tradition, a period when artists frequently explored rural and coastal subjects. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece has been documented in catalogues of Varley’s oeuvre and remains a representative example of his landscape practice.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Varley (17 August 1778 – 17 November 1842) was an English watercolour painter and astrologer, and a close friend of William Blake.
![Study of a Head in Profile [verso], by John Varley](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-varley--study-of-a-head-in-profile-verso--3e16e84b6ceccae1-w320.webp)
![Two Studies of a Figure Holding a Basket [verso], by John Varley](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-varley--two-studies-of-a-figure-holding-a-basket-verso--7e8aaeb3f643e9b3-w320.webp)
