@ CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2025
Rare LS Lowry paintings are predicted to auction for a fortune in London later this month.
The Cotswold painting, Bourton-on-the-water is a rare and unique work of Lowry’s, from a period of time that the Lowry gallery in Salford currently do not possess. It is valued between £400,000 and £600,000.
It has been said that the Lowry are interested in loaning the painting from whoever purchases it.
Lowry enthusiast and local artist, Andrew Mathews, said: “It’d be a great addition to the lowrey collection.”
“It would give a rounded feeling of LS Lowry cause he wasn’t just a landscape painter of industrial landmarks”.
“He only painted in 5 colours in muted grays but I think the Coltswolds one has got abit of greenery in there as well.”
Nick Orchard, head of modern British and Irish art at Christie’s, said: “Lowry was first introduced to the Cotswolds when he was asked to produce a series of drawings for A Cotswolds Book in 1930.
“He (Lowry) commented that he found the villages of the Cotswolds very quaint and the stone very warm, quite different to the stone in Lancashire and Yorkshire, which was cold, hard and bleak.
“These Cotswolds paintings are a very small and rare group, and arguably Bourton-On-The-Water is the most successful of them all.
“The Lowry in Salford has made a request that if the buyer is so inclined, they would be delighted to have Bourton-on-the-Water on loan, as it would be the only painting to represent his time in the Cotswolds on display in their museum.”
The most valuable painting being auctioned is Going To The Match, which is one of only 2 pieces Lowry devoted to rugby.
It is thought that the 1928 work shows crowd heading to a rugby league match and is thought to depict either fans of Salford Red Devils or Swinton Lions.
@ CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2025
The Lowry acquired and display a piece of the same name and set a world auction record for the artist at Christie’s London in 2022, reaching almost £8 million.
Nick Orchard said: “We are delighted to be offering these paintings by LS Lowry, each coming from distinguished private collections.
“Together, they reflect some of Lowry’s most important themes, as well as rare subjects, and the chance to see them side by side is a special opportunity.”
Orchard added: “Lowry, who was a great observer of human life, and a lover of sport, found great inspiration in the crowds that would mass to sporting events, particularly football, rugby and cricket.
“Although he also recorded the workers going to and from the factories and mills, in the sporting paintings, which are much rarer, he was able to capture the people of Manchester at rest, enjoying going to follow and cheer on their local teams.”
The auction will take place on the 22nd of October.