Sketch for ‘Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy’ 1828

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the sketchiness, almost ephemeral quality of this profile. Editor: This is John Varley's "Sketch for 'Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy'," currently housed in the Tate Collections. Varley, born in 1778, was clearly interested in astrology. Curator: I see the word "Taurus" inscribed at the bottom. It speaks to the late 18th and early 19th-century fascination with pseudo-sciences like physiognomy. What do you make of the paper itself? Editor: The paper's aged texture hints at the historical context of artistic production; paper mills, material availability, and Varley's access to these resources. This tells us a lot about the conditions under which art was made. Curator: Indeed. Ultimately, for me, the piece highlights the dialogue between art, science, and cultural beliefs. Editor: And how artists like Varley both reflected and shaped those beliefs. A fascinating peek into the history of ideas.