17th Jun, 2023 9:30 GMT/BST
Modern & Contemporary Art
28
Laurence Stephen Lowry RBA, RA (1887-1976)
Street scene with figures (1947)
Signed and dated 1947, pastel, 27cm by 35.5cm
Provenance: Leigh Gallery, Manchester where purchased by the vendor's father in 1976
Thence by descent
The present lot is an exciting discovery as it’s the earliest work so far to appear on the market from a unique, rare group of joyful and vibrant figurative pastel works by Lowry, of which he seems to have made one a year between 1947 (or earlier) and 1950. There are two notable works from the series that have previously come to market namely; "Cowles Fish & Chips, Cleator Moor", 1948, sold for £145,250 in May 2012; and "The Broken Shop Window at Cleator Moor", 1950, sold for £50,000 in July 2020.
When comparing these two works with Street Scene with Figures, 1947, it is evident that not only is Lowry’s handling, style and technique the same in all three works, but they are also all the same size, and use the same medium and support, i.e., pencil and pastel on blue paper.
Lowry executed these pastels during his annual visits to Cumbria to stay with his friend, Reverend Geoffrey Bennett (1902-1991). Lowry and Bennett first met in 1926 when Bennett worked as a clerk with Lowry's cousin, Grace Shephard, at the London and County Westminster Bank in Manchester. The two men shared a lifelong friendship and over the years Bennett acquired many works from his friend and formed a very significant Lowry collection, which included the above mentioned, "Cowles Fish & Chips, Cleator Moor", 1948. When Bennett married after the War, he moved from Manchester with his wife Alice and son, also Geoffrey, to Cumbria as manager of the National Westminster Bank branch in Cleator Moor. Bennett was ordinated into the Anglican Church in 1962 and he became known to Lowry as the 'Reverend Gentleman'. When Lowry died in 1976, Reverend Bennett conducted the funeral service.
Following Bennett’s death in 1991 his collection of works by Lowry was sold in 1995 for a total of £528,440, to benefit Carlisle Cathedral.
We are grateful to Jonathan Horwich for his assistance with this catalogue entry.
Sold for £110,000
Estimated at £40,000 - £60,000
On blue buff paper. Slight cockling to the paper in places. Some very light surface dirt and debris trapped under the glass, mostly to the mount. Good colour depth. There are a number of small spots within the roof of the houses to the left hand side, these appear to be by design. Two pin holes top right corner. Not examined out of the frame.
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Regarding Pictures, Prints and Works on Paper, works are not examined out of the frame, unless specifically stated. Tennants Auctioneers do not cover damage to gilded wood or plaster picture frames, or to picture frame glass whilst the item is in our possession.
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Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art, 17th Jun, 2023
Modern and Contemporary Art Sales offer a broad range of paintings, prints, drawing and sculpture from the 20th and 21st centuries. The sales specialist in Northern Art, with a strong representation of Modern British artists.
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Thursday 15th June 10am-4pm, Friday 16th June 10am-5pm and the morning of the sale from 8am
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