FREDERICK VARLEY- A CANADIAN ARTIST'S VIEW OF THE GREAT WAR

In the  various events which will commemorate the centenary of the Great War there will surely be some that will celebrate the work of War Artists. This British government scheme is well known, there was a similar rerun in the Second World War. If you are interested in Paul or John  Nash, Roberts, Bomberg, Orpen, Kennington, or  Nevinson or you will know that they were involved in the scheme. You will likely know as I did of Bomberg's work for the Canadian War Memorials Fund. But a Canadian artist in Europe? There is nothing to do with Frederick Varley in the Imperial War Museum, but Canada has some excellent paintings.

I came upon this artist when searching for an art work by John Varley. I did not find it, but what I did find was a painting by Frederick Varley and this more than compensated for the failure of my search.

Varley was born in Sheffield in 1881 and trained there and in Antwerp. He had just turned 30 when he emigrated to Canada where he was to become a member of the Group of Seven an important group of Canadian landscapists (mostly).

"Gas Chamber, Seaford", F Varley 1918

This striking painting was my first sight of a Varley image. it represents a testing station for gas masks for the military. You can see the soldiers emerging from the space in their protective gear. As a composition it is quite dramatic. The chamber seems to be underground and the figures are emerging into a wider landscape. I feel that the dramatic composition may owe something to the fact that Varley had worked as an illustrator. There is story telling here, more so than-for example- in Paul Nash's more symbolist work.Nevertheless it looks as if there is considerable enjoyment of paintwork .

The troops may well be Canadian as the Canadian Engineers Training Depot was based at Seaford, Sussex.

"For What?" F Varley

There is written evidence that Varley was considerably moved by the futility of the war. Here a burial detail is collecting and burying what relics of humanity they can find. Here are the rows of little wooden crosses. In the foreground a cart of corpses awaiting their turn in the earth.And what a background.The vast,sodden wasteland of the battlefield is powerfully evoked.

"German Prisoners" F Varley

The prisoners walk on, wrapped up and despondent through the shattered landscape and the debris of war.The broken trees are shot to matchwood. It is so muddy, so grey.This is, like the others, quite a large painting. The brushwork looks as though it might be somewhat expressionist. 

As far as I can see from these reproductions  the paintings must hold their own with any of the better known work by war artists. I hope you agree.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY WIKIMEDIA