Sketch for ‘Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy’ 1828

Editor: This is John Varley's 'Sketch for Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy' from the Tate Collections. It seems to be a study of a face, with separate eye sketches. It has an almost scientific feel. How do you interpret this work, especially with its title referencing zodiacal physiognomy? Curator: The title is key. Varley was deeply interested in the pseudoscientific practice of physiognomy, linking facial features to character. Eyes, especially, were considered windows to the soul. Do you notice how the isolated eye sketches are rendered with such detail, almost magnified? Editor: Yes, the detail is striking. Does this suggest a belief in inherent character traits tied to astrological signs? Curator: Precisely. It reflects a time when people sought cosmic connections in everyday features. Varley’s sketch invites us to consider how much we still judge by appearances, consciously or not. Editor: I never considered how deeply ingrained that practice might be. Curator: We carry the echoes of these old beliefs, shaping our perceptions even today. It shows how images reflect our shared cultural history.