Lowry paintings to go under hammer in London

AFP - Tuesday, May 6 01:10 pm

LONDON (AFP) - Four recently-resurfaced paintings by artist L.S. Lowry are to go under the hammer next month in London, auctioneers Christie's said Tuesday.

The canvases by Lowry, famous for his distinctive matchstick-style figures, include "An Old Church," which has not been seen since the 1940s before its recent rediscovery in a private collection.

Also up for grabs in the June 6 sale of 20th century British art will be "Manchester City vs Sheffield United, 1938" by the artist, who supported Bolton Wanderers.

Both those works are expected to fetch up to one million pounds while "A Cricket Match," not seen in public for over a decade, could go for 600,000 to 800,000 pounds, and "The Sea" for up to 250,000 pounds.

Christie's director Rachel Hidderley said the paintings included Lowry's well-known focus on ordinary people in everyday situations.

"Lowry was a keen football supporter... he concentrates on the home crowd rather than the team members, using the occasion of the match to concentrate on depicting the personalities of the individuals attending," she said.

Of "The Old Church" she added: "The bustling figures are placed in groups, though stand alone, expressing a universal loneliness which is characteristic of Lowry's figures."

Lowry was born in Manchester in 1887. Much of his work paints an evocative picture of life in the industrialised towns of northern England. He died in 1976.

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