News
A rare Lowry painting is going on public display for the first time in nearly 60 years
You can catch a glimpse of it before it goes to auction next month.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd February 2024 
A rare L.S. Lowry painting that hasn’t been seen in public for close to 60 years is set to go on display next month.
Talk about a monumental occasion, right?
The artwork in question, which is titled ‘Sunday Afternoon’, was thought to have been painted by Greater Manchester‘s most-famous artist all the way back in 1957, and pays resemblance to a lot of the other well-known works in his expansive and massively-celebrated portfolio.
As you’d expect from L.S. Lowry, ‘Sunday Afternoon’ depicts a densely-populated industrial landscape, which the Stretford-born figure often described as the “battle of life”.
‘Sunday Afternoon’ was previously sold at auction in 1967 for a “record price” after being obtained from the collection of Keith Showering – who was a former chief executive officer of Europe’s biggest drinks business, Allied Breweries.
And now, it’s set to go to auction once again in a couple of weeks time with auction house, Christie’s – which was founded in 1766, and was actually the auctioneers to sell the painting the first time round in the mid-60s – down in London as part of the Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale on Wednesday 20 March.
The auction house said the painting is expected to fetch somewhere between £4-6 million when it goes up for sale.
But not before it gets publicly displayed for the first time in 57 years, that is.
Speaking ahead of the highly-anticipated auction next month, Phillip Harley – who is the Senior Director at Christie’s, commented: “Sunday Afternoon by LS Lowry will return to the public eye at Christie’s for the first time since it was last seen here 57 years ago.
“This important painting has remained in the collection of Sir Keith and Lady Showering since 1967, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire a work of this magnitude and scale. The composition represents the wonder the artist felt as he recorded his many observations of the evolving society around him.
“We are thrilled to bring Sunday Afternoon back to auction.”
Clients and visitors, alike, are invited to view ‘Sunday Afternoon’ when it goes on free display in London from 13 – 20 March.
Read more:
- Famous L.S. Lowry painting will remain in Salford after fetching £7.8m at auction
- Green light given for £7.6m transformation of Manchester’s iconic John Rylands Library
- Legendary Salford poet John Cooper Clarke awarded freedom of his home city
So, if you fancy a trip down to the capital, a rare art piece is ready and waiting for you.
Featured Image – Christie’s Images LTD 2024
