Latest news with #Lowrys
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
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
£10 painting by 'matchstick men' artist may fetch £1 million
Going to the Mill was purchased by the Guardian's literary editor Arthur Wallace in 1926. 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 (R25 million) when it goes under the hammer, auctioneers said this week. 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
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
L. S. Lowry painting bought for £10 expected to fetch £1m
A rare L. S. Lowry painting bought for £10 is expected to sell at auction for up to £1m. Going To The Mill was purchased by Arthur Wallace in 1926 for about £780 in today's is believed to be one of the earliest sales of the Stretford-born painter's works. Simon Hucker, from the Lyon & Turnbull auction house in London, said Going To The Mill was from a time when Lowry found his "unique voice" as an artist. The artwork was originally bought by Mr Wallace, the Manchester Guardian's literary editor, who used it to mark Manchester Civic Week, celebrating the city's industrial To The Mill is marked on the back as costing £30, but Lowry agreed to sell it for the reduced price of £10. Recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, the painting has been in the Wallace family for the last Wallace's grandson Keith Wallace said: "Lowry said with great daring: 'Could we say £10?' and Grandpa wrote a cheque."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."In a letter to Mr Wallace from 1926, Lowry wrote: "Many thanks for your letter and cheque for £10."I am very glad Mrs Wallace likes the picture Going to Work and take the liberty of asking you to please accept The Manufacturing Town as a souvenir of the Civic Week."The painting is expected to sell for between £700,000 and £1m when it goes for auction at Mall Galleries. Additional reporting by The Press Association. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Lowry painting bought for £10 expected to fetch £1m at auction
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 is expected to sell for up to £1 million nearly 100 years later. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by Arthur Wallace for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. It is now going up for auction for the first time at Mall Galleries, central London, with Lyon & Turnbull fine auctioneers, where it is estimated to sell for between £700,000 and £1 million next month. Lowry completed Going To The Mill in 1925, with the painting reflecting his signature style of industrial landscapes and figures. It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter. The painting was originally bought by Arthur Wallace, the Manchester Guardian's literary editor, who used it to mark Manchester Civic Week, celebrating the city's industrial success. Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10. Recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, the artwork has been in the Wallace family for the past century. Lowry also gifted Mr Wallace an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago. Explaining the original sale, Mr Wallace's grandson Keith Wallace said: 'Lowry said with great daring, 'Could we say £10?', and Grandpa wrote a cheque. 'I've charged you too much' '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 Nov 9 1926 where he writes: 'Many thanks for your letter and cheque for £10. 'I am very glad Mrs Wallace likes the picture ... and take the liberty of asking you to please accept The Manufacturing Town as a souvenir of the Civic Week.' According to Simon Hucker, senior specialist in modern and contemporary art at the Lyon & Turnbull auction house, Going To The Mill is 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. 'A work of similar size and date sold from HSBC's collection last year went for £1.2 million. We are very proud to present this painting to the market for the first time since it was sold directly by Lowry.'
The Independent
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 expected to fetch up to £1 million
A rare painting by LS Lowry originally bought for £10 is expected to sell for up to £1 million nearly 100 years later. The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by Arthur Wallace for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since. It is now going up for auction for the first time at Mall Galleries, central London, with Lyon & Turnbull fine auctioneers where it is estimated to sell for between £700,000 and £1 million. Lowry completed Going To The Mill in 1925, with the painting reflecting his signature style of industrial landscapes and figures. It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter. The painting was originally bought by Arthur Wallace, the Manchester Guardian's literary editor, who used it to mark Manchester Civic Week, celebrating the city's industrial success. Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10. Recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, the artwork has been in the Wallace family for the last century. He also gifted him an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago. Explaining the original sale, Mr Wallace's grandson Keith Wallace said: 'Lowry said with great daring: 'Could we say £10?' and Grandpa wrote a cheque. '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 Going to Work and take the liberty of asking you to please accept The Manufacturing Town as a souvenir of the Civic Week.' According to Simon Hucker, senior specialist in modern and contemporary art at the Lyon & Turnbull auction house, Going To The Mill is a rare yet classic Lowry painting. He said: 'Going To The Mill is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, when he truly becomes a unique voice. 'It is especially rare for a painting such as this to have had only one owner. 'A work of similar size and date sold from HSBC's collection last year went for £1.2 million. 'We are very proud to present this painting to the market for the first time since it was sold directly by Lowry.'
