Frederick H. Varley

Key Porter Books, Toronto, 1983. Frederick Horsman Varley (1881 1969) was a member of the Canadian Group of Seven artists. Varley was born in Sheffield, England. He attended Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. He immigrated to Canada in 1912 on the advice of another Sheffield native (and future Group of Seven member), Arthur Lismer. Beginning in January 1918, he served in the First World War, where he came to the attention of Lord Beaverbrook, who arranged for him to be commissioned as an "official war artist. In 1920, he was a founding member of the Group of Seven. He was known for painting landscapes. He painted people in green, pink, or purple. His and A.Y. Jackson's contribution in the war influenced work in the Group of Seven. They chose to paint Canadian wilderness that had been damaged by fire or harsh climates. He died in Toronto in 1969 and was buried alongside other members of the Original Seven at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection grounds in Kleinburg, Ontario. This book, written by his son, Peter, is the first major work celebrating his art. This large format book, with pages measuring 285mm X 260mm, is in fine condition, as is the dust jacket, now in a protective mylar wrap. A beautiful copy of a work on a member of the Group of Seven. …