Laurence Stephen Lowry, RA, RBA (British, 1887-1976), A Boy ...

Estimate

£20,000 - £25,000

Laurence Stephen Lowry, RA, RBA (British, 1887-1976), A Boy Smoking, pencil, signed and dated 'L.S. Lowry 1967' (lower right), framed, 7 1/8 x 6 1/8in. (18.1 x 15.6cm.). * Provenance: A gift from the artist to Miss L. Keane, Salford, circa 1960s. Harry 'Vince' McCaffrey, Liverpool and Manchester, 1981-1999. Captain Frederick John Taylor, Liverpool, 1999. Christie's, Modern British & Irish Art, London, 17th March 2016, lot 123. ** Notes: Well known Lancashire artist forever associated with matchstick men and match stalk cats and dogs, Lowry is famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial areas of North West England in the mid-20th century. Born in Manchester in 1887 Lowry was not self-taught as often supposed but studied between 1905-15 at the Manchester College of Art. He was taught by the French painter Adolphe Valette (1846-1942) was came to have a great influence on his pupil. In 1909 Lowry moved from Rusholme to Pendelbury in Salford where the following year he began working as rent collector. Between 1915-25 he studied at Salford School of Art and started to show an interest in painting city scenes, his early paintings often focusing on accidents and misfortunes. In 1932 he started exhibiting at the Royal Academy and from 1939 at the Lefevre Gallery in London where he exhibited regularly. Lowry's first real success came after World War 11 when his work stated to appear in group exhibitions including the 1946 exhibition of modern art organised in Paris by UNESCO. He also exhibited with the Salon des Artistes Francais and Salon d' Automne in Paris and held numerous one man shows in London. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1952 and the Royal Academy in 1962. The Lowry Centre, in Salford is devoted to the work of the artist.