L.S. Lowry
Station Approach, Manchester
dated 1960
est. £2-3 million, sold for £2,322,500
An iconic painting of Manchester life by L.S. Lowry sold for £2.3 million at Sotheby’s in London today. Station Approach, Manchester, dates from 1960. It depicts one of Manchester’s historic landmarks, the London and North Western Railway Exchange Station. This work epitomises everything that Lowry has become known and loved for. The subject was highly significant for the artist and he chose to produce a smaller version of it in 1962 to present to the Royal Academy of Arts, London, on being made a Royal Academician. It was first exhibited in the artist’s sell-out 1961 exhibition at Lefevre Gallery, London and has not been seen in public for a generation.
Frances Christie, Sotheby’s Head of Modern & Post-War British Art Department commented: ‘Station Approach, Manchester is one of Lowry’s most exciting works to emerge onto the market in recent years. Lowry was a master at portraying the energy and vitality of everyday life and in Station Approach, Manchester he captures the hustle and bustle of the crowds heading home after a hard day’s work – it is a superb example of Lowry at his very best.’