Frederick Horsman Varley
(1881 - 1969) Group of Seven, Canadian Group of Painters, ARCA
Previously Sold Works
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Sun and Wind, Georgian Bay, 1916 or 1920
oil on panel, mounted to plywood
signed lower right; titled and dated circa 1915 on the gallery and exhibition labels on the reverse; Varley Inventory Number 1068
12.25 x 16.25 ins ( 31.1 x 41.3 cms )
Auction Estimate: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00
Price Realized $984,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Lynn Valley, B.C.
oil on canvas on board
signed lower left; signed and inscribed “B.C. Landscape” and Varley Inventory No. 53 on a label on the reverse
20 x 24 ins ( 50.8 x 61 cms )
Auction Estimate: $150,000.00 - $200,000.00
Price Realized $288,000.00
Sale date: June 8th 2023
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Snow in the Mountains, Garibaldi Park
oil on panel
signed lower left; inscribed “Varley $60” and Varley Inventory No. 1293 on the reverse
12 x 15 ins ( 30.5 x 38.1 cms )
Auction Estimate: $40,000.00 - $60,000.00
Price Realized $144,000.00
Sale date: December 1st 2022
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Jess (1950)
oil on canvas
signed upper right (vertically), with artist’s thumb-print beneath; Varley Inventory No. 450 (twice) on the reverse
22 x 16 ins ( 55.9 x 40.6 cms )
Auction Estimate: $60,000.00 - $80,000.00
Price Realized $60,000.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
The Valley of the Don
oil on board
signed and dated 1925 lower left; Varley Inventory Number 673
11.5 x 15.75 ins ( 29.2 x 40 cms )
Auction Estimate: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00
Price Realized $42,000.00
Sale date: November 23rd 2017
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Spring Meadow, Don Valley
oil on canvas
titled and Varley Inventory Number 1044 stamped on the stretcher
9.25 x 13.25 ins ( 23.5 x 33.7 cms )
Auction Estimate: $25,000.00 - $35,000.00
Price Realized $28,320.00
Sale date: May 28th 2019
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Mabou - Cape Breton
oil on canvas board
signed lower right; titled and Varley Inventory Number (441) stamped on the reverse
12 x 15 ins ( 30.5 x 38.1 cms )
Auction Estimate: $20,000.00 - $30,000.00
Price Realized $19,550.00
Sale date: May 31st 2016
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Winter Afternoon, Doon
oil on board
signed lower left; Varley inventory stamp no. 1080 on the reverse
11.75 x 15 in ( 29.8 x 38.1 cm )
Auction Estimate: $15,000.00 - $20,000.00
Price Realized $14,400.00
Sale date: November 27th 2024
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Woodnote
pencil and watercolour
signed lower left and signed with initials lower right; signed, titled, dated 1944 and inscribed “Wychwood in Alymer, Que.” and “Varley INV 191” on the reverse, Varley inventory no. 191
7 x 9.5 ins ( 17.8 x 24.1 cms ) ( sheet )
Auction Estimate: $15,000.00 - $20,000.00
Price Realized $12,540.00
Sale date: December 6th 2023
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Untitled Landscape
oil on board
signed lower right; sketch of a forest interior on the reverse in another artist's hand
12 x 16 in ( 30.5 x 40.6 cm )
Auction Estimate: $15,000.00 - $20,000.00
Price Realized $19,200.00
Sale date: May 21st 2024
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Belfountain
watercolour
signed lower right
10 x 12.5 ins ( 25.4 x 31.8 cms ) ( sight )
Auction Estimate: $7,000.00 - $9,000.00
Price Realized $11,500.00
Sale date: December 14th 2016
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Couple Resting
watercolour
signed lower left
9.75 x 13.25 ins ( 24.8 x 33.7 cms ) ( sight )
Auction Estimate: $5,000.00 - $7,000.00
Price Realized $7,800.00
Sale date: July 20th 2021
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Forest (possibly near Ottawa)
pencil drawing
signed lower right
9.5 x 12 ins ( 24.1 x 30.5 cms ) ( sight )
Auction Estimate: $2,500.00 - $3,000.00
Price Realized $3,480.00
Sale date: May 31st 2022
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Valley and Peaks
pen drawing
signed lower left; Varley Inventory No. 407 on the reverse
11 x 13.75 ins ( 27.9 x 34.9 cms ) ( sight )
Auction Estimate: $1,200.00 - $1,500.00
Price Realized $2,596.00
Sale date: October 22nd 2019
FREDERICK HORSMAN VARLEY
Mountain Range
charcoal
signed lower right
6 x 9 ins ( 15.2 x 22.9 cms ) ( sight )
Auction Estimate: $1,200.00 - $1,500.00
Price Realized $1,888.00
Sale date: October 27th 2020
Consignments
We are currently seeking works by Fred Varley to be included in future consignment sales.
If you are interested in selling works by Frederick Horsman Varley or want to get our opinion of value click here for more information or submit your artwork for sale.
Fred Varley Biography
(1881 - 1969) Group of Seven, Canadian Group of Painters, ARCA
Born in Sheffield, England, Frederick Varley went to Antwerp as a young man to study art at the Academie Royale des Beaux-Arts and then returned to London, England to work as an illustrator. In 1912 he came to Toronto, Canada where he formed a friendship with Arthur Lismer. Lismer introduced Varley to fellow artists who spent their weekends painting outside of the city. They tried to convince Varley that the most challenging and inspiring subject matter was the Canadian Landscape. Varley, who was more interested in portraiture, took a while to warm to the lure of the landscape, which he eventually did. His best work, however, continued to be his portrait and figure work into which he incorporated the landscape.
In 1926 he accepted a teaching position at the Vancouver School of Art and stayed in British Columbia until 1936 when he returned to Eastern Canada to continue his career as an artist with some teaching to help his finances. Varley was an avid reader of philosophy, in particular the writings of Chinese writers. These writings, along with his own observations, influenced his approach to colour and subject matter. He felt "colour vibrations", as he expressed it, "emanating from the object portrayed". His personal use of colour became a trademark of his paintings and one that is still used by so many artists today, such was the lasting influence of his work.
