Sketch for ‘Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy’ 1828

Curator: Here we have John Varley's ‘Sketch for Treatise on Zodiacal Physiognomy’ from the Tate Collections. It appears to be ink on paper. Editor: My initial impression is one of fragmented observation, like a series of fleeting glances at different temperaments. Curator: Varley was deeply interested in astrology and physiognomy, the idea that one could read character from facial features. Note the variations in brow lines, the subtle differences in the set of the eyes. Editor: Exactly, the eyes are particularly striking. They become symbolic of inner states, almost like windows to the soul, but categorized by zodiacal association. Curator: I'm also interested in the material process. It's a sketch, not a finished painting. It reveals the artist's working method, his attempt to codify human characteristics. Editor: It almost feels like an anthropologist compiling visual data, attempting to connect outward appearance with an inner archetype. Curator: It reminds us that even scientific or pseudoscientific pursuits are filtered through artistic interpretation and media. Editor: Indeed, and perhaps that the symbols we create reflect our own internal search for order.