Beschreibung:

Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976) iddlesborough Town Hall encil igned and dated 1958 lower left 4cm x 36cm Provenance: with G.P. Prestons Art Gallery, Bolton The subject of this drawing is comparable to the 3 works by the artist all titled 'The Old Town Hall, Middlesborough', Oil on canvas, dated 1959, 1960 and 1962 Laurence Stephen Lowry 1887 - 1976 orn in Stretford, near Manchester, Lowry had an unhappy childhood dominated by an invalid mother. He attended evening classes in antique and freehand drawing and in 1905 went on to study in the Manchester Academy of Fine Art and at the Salford Royal Technical College where his interest in industrial landscapes and an awareness of French Impressionism and Pre-Raphaelitism developed. His work as a rent collector for the Pall Mall Property Company led to him walking all over the city whereupon he would make quick sketches recreating them in the studio as his ôdreamscapesö. Deeply affected by his immediate surroundings in Pendlebury he found his subject matter on the doorstep. At the onset of WWII Lowry became a volunteer fire watcher in Manchester and accepted an invitation to become a war artist. In 1953 he was appointed Official Artist at the QueenÆs Coronation. Lowry never married but maintained longstanding friendships, most notably with the Cumbrian artist, Sheila Fell, and Carol Ann Lowry (no relation) who in 2001 obtained the trademark protection of his signature. Lowry was awarded various academic honours but declined an OBE, a CBE, knighthood and CH twice. (He holds the record for the most honours declined). His 77th birthday was celebrated in 1964 by the art world with an exhibition of his work