Watercolour on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-varley-569" aria-label="More by John Varley" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">John Varley</a>
Holy Island Castle
Bequeathed by J.R. Holliday 1927
architecture
boat, sailing
castle
coast
England
England, North East
England, Northern
hill
Holy Island
landscape
medieval
military
Northumberland
periods and styles
places
rocky
sea
seascapes and coasts
society
transport: water
UK counties
UK countries and regions
UK natural features
<p>Varley toured Northumberland in 1808, and the area provided him with subject matter for watercolours for several years. This is one of several showing the castle on Lindisfarne, an island connected to the Northumbria coastline by a causeway that disappears at high tide. The castle dates to the sixteenth century, but the historic associations of the island go back to the sixth century. A number of artists in search of Picturesque subjects with strong historical associations painted not only the Castle but also the ruined priory on Lindisfarne.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
paper unique watercolour
Holy Island Castle
support: 105 × 127 mm
Bequeathed by J.R. Holliday 1927
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<span class="text0">Varley toured Northumberland in 1808, and the area      provided him with subject matter for <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/w/watercolour" title="Glossary definition for 'Watercolour'"><span>watercolours</span></a> for several years. This      is one of several showing the castle </span><span class="text18">on      Lindisfarne, an island connected</span><span class="text19"> to the </span><span class="text17">Northumbria coastline by a causeway  that disappears at high      tide. The castle dates to the sixteenth century, but the </span><span class="text0">historic associations of the island go back </span><span class="text20">to the sixth century. A number of artists  </span><span class="text21">in search of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/picturesque" title="Glossary definition for 'Picturesque'"><span>Picturesque</span></a> subjects with strong historical      associations painted  not only the Castle but also the ruined priory on      Lindisfarne. </span>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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architecture boat, sailing castle coast England England, North East England, Northern hill Holy Island landscape medieval military Northumberland periods and styles places rocky sea seascapes and coasts society transport: water UK counties UK countries and regions UK natural features