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L.S. Lowry

By David Tatham

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Published: 05Feb2010
Word count: 548
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This young fellow grew up in the streets of northern England, Lancashire. He did not have great academic success at school and preferred to sketch and paint. He was brought up in a fairly well to do area of Manchester, his father was an estate agent and his mother a concert pianist of some reputation. Unfortunately, hard times fell upon the Lowry's, and they were forced to give up their house and move to a more industrial working area; something L.S. Lowry was not familiar with. At first he disliked all the noise, smoke, dirt and the large mills that employed thousands of people living a poor existence. Then he became fascinated with the whole scene around him. Seeing the crowds come and go as they worked at the mill. The dark satanic mills with their chimneys pouring out smoke, and the rows of terraced houses where the workers would live. As his interest developed, so did his wish to portray these scenes. Everyday people in often desparately sad situations. He felt he could relate to the sadness he saw everyday, and in some way that seemed to comfort him.

When Lowry left school he became a rent collector for the Pall Mall rent collection company. He was able to observe the daily life of the local people on the streets first hand. He would make many sketches and drawings of the scenes he saw, often on scraps of paper he found whilst leaning against a lamp post watching the world go by.

He continued to attend art school, and greatly admired the work of several great contemorary artists of his time. Lowry was fortunate to have an excellent and well respected teacher at college that encourasged him to find his own unique style.

As his reputation and success grew, Lowry turned his back on material gains and the many awards offered to him, including a knighthood. His father died, and his mother became ill. He continued to paint after spending a long time looking after his ailing mother. Many people would come to visit him in the hope of receiving a small drawing or painting, in fact he was inundated with strangers wanting to take advantage of his artistic success. He did not enjoy this part of his recognition, and became more reclusive. Many signed, limited editions were published, approximately fifty; his most famous one to date is titled 'Going to the match'. There was a painting entitled Mrs Swindell's picture which he gave to his housekeeper (Mrs Swindell). This painting was later published as a signed limited edition. Although most of his scenes are from the Lancashire area, Lowry would travel and for example paint and sketch on the south coast 'Deal', and there is a signed, limited edition titled 'Burford church' in the Cotswolds area. The North East coast of England was one of his favourite haunts, from Berwick-on-Tweed south across Northumberland, Sunderland and Hartlepool. All his paintings and drawings have usually some story attached to them. For example 'Landscape with farm buildings' which was reproduced as a signed limited edition print, originated from one Sunday afternoon when went to visit a friend, and we can see from this scene that it more relaxed and lighter than some of the heavy depressing mill scenes.

David Tatham specializes in the paintings, drawings and signed limited edition prints by L.S. Lowry; an extensive collection of this artist's work can be viewed and bought at the website http://www.lowry.co.uk

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