Shropshire's life and history will be celebrated with the opening of Shropshire Council's new Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery later this year in the former Music Hall at the heart of the county town's Square. It is hoped that John Varley's important painting may be given by the people of Shropshire as their gift for its opening.

This appeal, hosted by the Friends of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, seeks to raise just £6,000* to secure the painting.

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John Varley(1778 - 1842) was one of the greatest British watercolour painters and a founder-member of the Society of Painters in Watercolours.

Varley produced this evocative painting of the medieval thoroughfare of Fish Street and the Bear Steps in 1802. It was almost certainly exhibited at the Royal Academy in London the following year as 'View of St Orkmond's Church, Shrewsbury'.

A boy struggles with a barrow, a washer woman scrubs tirelessly at her laundry, whilst a lady gazes idly down upon the scene from an open casement - life in Shrewsbury in 1802 captured with superb atmosphere. Towering over the tottering timber framed houses and the Bear Steps is the lofty spire of St Alkmund's, whilst in the distance is the St Julian's tower, surmounted by the classical urns designed by the architect of the Iron Bridge.

This picture will be such a wonderful gift to our museum and art gallery on the occasion of its opening.So please dig deep and donate now.

 * If donations exceed £6000 the surplus will be given to  the Friends of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, to use in their ongoing support of the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.