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 Frederick Forsyth 
Sale 6458, Lot 50
Laurence Stephen Lowry, R.A. (1887-1976) Northern River Scene Oil on canvas Estimate: £200,000-300,000 |
20th Century British Art By Rachel Hidderley L.S. Lowry dominated last year's 20th Century British Art sales at Christie's with two single-owner collections, the late Monty Bloom's in June and Lawrence Ives's in November. The trend continues this season with nine Lowry paintings from the collection of political-thriller writer Frederick Forsyth. In amassing this carefully crafted group over thirteen years, the author intended to reflect the last and best 20 years of the artist's output. He had admired the artist's work for some time: 'There is something about the figures in his pictures that intrigues me; all seem to be locked in thought, some pressing forward upon a personal errand, some gazing melancholy into the distance, others about to say something to the figure next to them. They are alive with the concerns of every day, but caught and locked into perpetuity by Lowry's gentle eye. And always the spindle-legged dogs of exactly the same type running among them.' Among the collection's street scenes and cityscapes, Northern River Scene the most compelling image and the front cover of the sale catalogue was inspired by a commission to paint the city of Lincoln. Lowry decided that this view could be a trademark 'industrial' picture if he swapped the cathedral for a factory with a tall tower and focused on the working life of the river running through the composition. Industrial Scene was commissioned by Jack Beddington, the pre-war publicity chief of Shell-Mex, and was one of sixteen works by contemporary artists reproduced as a lithograph to decorate the 250 Lyons tearooms around the country. The Old Town Hall, Middlesbrough was from the collection of Max Bygraves, O.B.E. It was bought by Mr. Forsyth at Christie's in 1988, together with two other works from private collections: Lady with a Dog and a Half, and Waiting for an Answer. Three more purchases from these rooms followed in 1990: Figures in the Rain (The Bus Stop), Standing Man, and A Narrow Street. In fact, eight out of the nine paintings were bought at Christie's and we are delighted to offer them now for sale on his behalf. Rachel Hidderley is a Specialist in the 20th Century British Art department rhidderley@christies.com Tel: 44(0)20 7389 2684 |
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