Laurence Stephen Lowry, R.A. (1887-1976)

This was one of the earliest drawings bought from Lowry by Lawrence Ives. Lowry was pleased when he selected this work rather than one of the more popular industrial scenes and the choice helped to bond their early friendship.

Lawrence Ives recalls suggesting that the man in the drawing could be the artist himself when young and Lowry agreed,
'Yes, it could be, they say there is something of me in all of them, Sir!'
Later when the artist saw the drawing exhibited at Didsbury College in the 1969 exhibition he commented,
'They didn't used to like my heads; all they wanted were my people in the mills. They are changing now but I have always thought that my heads were amongst my best. There are not many heads, Sir, and you've got a good one.'