Latest news with #GoingToTheMill
Kuwait Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
£10 painting by English 'matchstick men' artist may fetch £1 million
A rare work by the painter LS Lowry, known for his depictions of English working-class life, originally bought for 10 pounds is expected to fetch up to £1 million ($1.3 million) when it goes under the hammer, auctioneers said Monday. The painting, "Going To The Mill", was bought by literary editor Arthur Wallace in 1926 and has been in his family ever since. Lowry, who died in 1976 at the age of 88, won fame for his paintings of industrial parts of northern England populated with his signature "matchstick" figures. The work shows mill workers scurrying to work with tall factory chimneys belching out black smoke in the background. Completed in 1925, it is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by Lowry in an unusual two-for-one deal the buyer negotiated directly with the artist. Originally priced at £30, Lowry then suggested a price of £10 for the oil on panel work, which was agreed, according to Wallace's grandson Keith Wallace. "Grandpa wrote a cheque," he said. "Then Lowry wrote back to him saying: 'I think I've charged you too much. Can I give you another one as well?' So Grandpa got two Lowrys for his £10." The Wallace family still have Lowry's letter from November 9, 1926 where he writes: "Many thanks for your letter and cheque for £10. I am very glad Mrs Wallace likes the picture." The second work, "Manufacturing Town", was previously sold by the family. Simon Hucker, senior specialist in modern and contemporary art at the Lyon & Turnbull auction house, said the painting was a rare yet classic Lowry painting. "'Going To The Mill' is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, when he truly becomes a unique voice," he said. "It is especially rare for a painting such as this to have had only one owner," he added. A work of similar size and date sold from HSBC's collection last year went for £1.2 million, Hucker said. "Going to the Mill" will be sold on Friday at Mall Galleries, where it is estimated to sell for £700,000 to £1 million. After his death, Lowry's work was celebrated in the hit song "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" by musical duo Brian and Michael. The song reached number one in the UK pop charts in 1978. - AFP
RTÉ News
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
LS Lowry painting bought for £10 sells for more than £800,000
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 has sold at auction for more than £800,000. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, Arthur Wallace, for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. Today, the artwork sold at auction at the Mall Galleries in central London for £805,200, including buyer's premium. Lowry, who was lauded for his portrayal of everyday industrial scenes in northwest England, painted the piece in 1925. Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10. It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter. He also gifted him an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago. The artwork, which has been in the Wallace family for the last century, was recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. Simon Hucker, modern and contemporary art specialist and head of sale, Lyon And Turnbull auction house said: "We're absolutely delighted by the price achieved for this exceptional, early painting by Lowry, bought from him when he was a virtual unknown. "There are few artists who become a household name in Britain and Lowry definitely falls into this category." Mr Hucker added: "This is a painting shows that Lowry at his conceptual best, no naive painter of 'matchstick men', as the old pop song went. "Instead he is an artist of true dexterity who is making deliberate formal choices, abstracting the figure in order to express an idea about loneliness and isolation within the teeming city. "Going To The Mill is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, the period when he becomes a unique voice in British art. "It is especially rare is for a painting such as this to have been in one collection for one year shy of a century and we are delighted to have played a small part in its history." In 2024 a Lowry painting titled Sunday Afternoon sold for almost £6.3 million (€5.5m) at auction.
The Independent
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 sells for more than £800,000
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 has sold at auction for more than £800,000. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, Arthur Wallace, for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. On Friday the artwork sold at auction at the Mall Galleries in central London for £805,200, including buyer's premium. Lowry, who was lauded for his portrayal of everyday industrial scenes in northwest England, painted the piece in 1925. Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10. It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter. He also gifted him an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago. The artwork, which has been in the Wallace family for the last century, was recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. Simon Hucker, modern and contemporary art specialist and head of sale, Lyon And Turnbull auction house said: 'We're absolutely delighted by the price achieved for this exceptional, early painting by Lowry, bought from him when he was a virtual unknown. 'There are few artists who become a household name in Britain and Lowry definitely falls into this category.' Mr Hucker added: 'This is a painting shows that Lowry at his conceptual best, no naive painter of 'matchstick men', as the old pop song went. 'Instead he is an artist of true dexterity who is making deliberate formal choices, abstracting the figure in order to express an idea about loneliness and isolation within the teeming city. 'Going To The Mill is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, the period when he becomes a unique voice in British art. 'It is especially rare is for a painting such as this to have been in one collection for one year shy of a century and we are delighted to have played a small part in its history.' In 2024 a Lowry painting titled Sunday Afternoon sold for almost £6.3 million at auction.
STV News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 sells for more than £800,000
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 has sold at auction for more than £800,000. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, Arthur Wallace, for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. On Friday the artwork sold at auction at the Mall Galleries in central London for £805,200, including buyer's premium. Lowry, who was lauded for his portrayal of everyday industrial scenes in northwest England, painted the piece in 1925. Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10. It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter. He also gifted him an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago. The artwork, which has been in the Wallace family for the last century, was recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester. Simon Hucker, modern and contemporary art specialist and head of sale, Lyon And Turnbull auction house said: 'We're absolutely delighted by the price achieved for this exceptional, early painting by Lowry, bought from him when he was a virtual unknown. 'There are few artists who become a household name in Britain and Lowry definitely falls into this category.' Mr Hucker added: 'This is a painting shows that Lowry at his conceptual best, no naive painter of 'matchstick men', as the old pop song went. 'Instead he is an artist of true dexterity who is making deliberate formal choices, abstracting the figure in order to express an idea about loneliness and isolation within the teeming city. 'Going To The Mill is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, the period when he becomes a unique voice in British art. 'It is especially rare is for a painting such as this to have been in one collection for one year shy of a century and we are delighted to have played a small part in its history.' In 2024 a Lowry painting titled Sunday Afternoon sold for almost £6.3m at auction. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Belfast Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 sells for more than £800,000
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 has sold at auction for more than £800,000. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by literary editor of the Manchester Guardian, Arthur Wallace, for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since.
