LS Lowry - One of the Greatest English Painters of this Century

Born on November 1, 1887 in England’s industrial heartland, Manchester, at Barratt Street, Old Trafford, L. S. Lowry (Laurence Stephen Lowry) was one of the greatest British artists of the 20th century. With his distinctive way of drawing and painting, he focused on portraying industrial landscape scenes. Lowry’s paintings are known for the realistic depiction of the hustle and bustle of urban life, with a majority of his themes based on the streets of Manchester and Lancashire.

In his early years, Lowry lived in the Manchester suburb of Victoria Park. Due to financial hardship, his family had to move down to Station Road, Pendlebury. In 1905 Lowry had the privilege of learning from Pierre Adolphe Valette, the French Impressionist, when he enrolled for evening classes at the Manchester Municipal College of Art. The influence of his teachers at the college is evident in his paintings such as 'Landscape' and 'Country lane'.

In 1912, Lowry joined the Pall Mall Property Company as a rent collector and worked there until 1952. He painted 'The Head of a Man' in 1938. 'The Bedroom Pendlebury' was created in memory of his mother in 1939. His growing despair and isolation in those days are clearly depicted in this painting. In 1948, he left Pendlebury and moved to Mottram-in-Longdendale, Cheshire. After his retirement in 1952, he wanted to involve more seriously in his artistic pursuit and continued to travel, draw and paint.

Lowry created quick sketches on whatever paper he had. Subjects such as people going off to work, returning from work, market places, children playing in the streets, housewives and Whit-processions find a place in his paintings. He used a very simple range of colors to paint. Pale backgrounds with careful color composition were the highlights of his industrial paintings. He employed a variety of techniques to paint - sometimes he used both ends of the brush, sometimes his fingers or a nail or a stick.

During 1950-1970, he painted powerful pictures including seascapes and deserted landscapes. From 1932, his paintings were exhibited regularly at The Royal Academy. Some of his famous portraits include: 'Still Life', 'Coming from the Mill', 'A Manufacturing Town', 'Peel Park, Salford', 'Coming Out of School', 'Going to the Match', 'The Sea', 'A River Bank', 'Football Ground', 'The Floating Bridge' and 'River Wear at Sunderland'. In may 2007, Some of his precious works such as 'The Viaduct, 'The Surgery', 'The Tanker Entering the Tyne' and 'The Bridge at Ringley' were stolen from The Grove Fine Art Gallery.

Lowry died on 23 February, 1976 at the age of 88. In his memory, The Royal Academy held a Memorial Exhibition of his art works. Sir Hugh Casson, the Academy President, referred to L.S Lowry as ‘one of the greatest English painters of this century’. In 1961, he was awarded Doctor of Letters from the University of Manchester. In 1975, the University of Salford and the University of Liverpool awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters to Lowry. In 1962, he was elected as an Academician.