Sketching the Past

In the 1950s, Frederick Varley wandered the halls of Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) with pencil in hand. Sketching the Past invites visitors to share in the careful observations he made, and to think about why we visit museums: to see, record, and reflect. Varley visited the ROM several times, sketching in the Natural History and Art and Culture galleries, where the Chinese collection was his favourite subject. His curiosity extended beyond objects to his fellow visitors, particularly in the dinosaur galleries, where smartly dressed groups could be seen admiring the specimens.

Varley’s keen eye for detail is evident in his documentation of fossils and sculptures, from soaring dinosaur skeletons to intricate cultural artefacts, rendered with the same precision and care as the portraits for which he was best known. Through these sketches and historical photographs, we can also see how objects were arranged and displayed, offering insight into the museum’s approach to storytelling and interpretation at the time.

Alongside these glimpses of the past, the exhibition offers a quiet reflection on how museum collection practices, display methods, and storytelling have evolved, shaping the ways we remember and imagine our shared cultural heritage.

Curated by Anik Glaude.
Artist: F. H. Varley
Organized by the Varley Art Gallery of Markham.

Exhibition dates: May 23rd- September 7th