FREDERICK
HORSMAN VARLEY (1881-1969)
Frederick
(Fred) Horsman Varley, was born in Sheffield,
England. He studied art in Sheffield and
in Belgium immigrating to Canada in 1912
on the advice of another Sheffield native,
Arthur Lismer.
While
serving in the First World War, he came
to the attention of Lord Beaverbrook,
who arranged for him to be commissioned
as an "official war artist accompanying
Canadian troops”. He and A.Y. Jackson's
war art influenced work in the Group of
Seven in their painting of Canadian wilderness
that had been damaged by fire or harsh
climates.
He
and Lawren Harris were the only members
of the group to paint portraits. |