Continuing my series of art critiques, I would like to introduce you to L S Lowry, an English painter who lived from 1887 to 1976.
Laurence Stephen "L.S." Lowry was born in Stretford, Lancashire, in the North of England and many of his paintings depict scenes from Pendlebury, Salford and surrounding areas. His paintings were usually of urban landscapes and he painted human figures in a simplified way which was referred to as "matchstick men."
The scene you see above is of the Northern town of Huddersfield which was painted in 1965.
Those of you who have read my book "
VISIONS", and my other books and stories about
Father Ignatius, will know that they are set in an un-named Northern town in England in the 1950's and 60's. The scene above is the sort of view one would imagine Father Ignatius would have from his office window high up in St Vincent Parish House.
You can see the hills fare away, often covered with snow in winter; the small terraced houses huddled together, sharing whatever warmth they have between them, and hiding behind the large tenements providing shelter from the Northern winds blowing down the hills; with people rushing to their homes or places of work as the acrid smelling smoke from those factory chimneys fill the gloomy skies.
In 1932 Lowry's father died leaving the family with debts, whilst his mother became ill and bedridden, relying on her son for care.Lowry often painted well into the night after his mother had fallen asleep.
He regretted that he had not received recognition as an
artist until the year his mother died and that she was not able to enjoy
his success.
Two years after his death, a famous song about Lowry by "Brian and Michael" topped the UK charts in 1978. I post a video below which shows a number of Lowry paintings and, in case you have difficulties with the accent, I also post the lyrics to the song for you to enjoy.
If you watch carefully, at about 3 minutes 30 seconds of the video, this
is the sort of church
St Vincent Parish would look like.
He painted Salford's smokey tops
On cardboard boxes from the shops
And parts of Ancoats where I used to play
I'm sure he once walked down our street
Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet
The clothes we wore had all seen better days.
Now they said his works of art were dull
No room, all round the walls are full
But Lowry didn't care much anyway
They said he just paints cats and dogs
And matchstalk men in boots and clogs
And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats
and dogs
He painted kids on the corner of the street with the
sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them
factory gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and
dogs
Now canvas and brushes were wearing thin
When London started calling him
To come on down and wear the old flat cap
They said tell us all about your ways
And all about them Salford days
Is it true you're just an ordinary chap
And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats
and dogs
He painted kids on the corner of the street with the
sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them
factory gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and
dogs
Now Lowries hang upon the wall
Beside the greatest of them all
And even the Mona Lisa takes a bow
This tired old man with hair like snow
Told northern folk its time to go
The fever came and the good Lord mopped his brow
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats
and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street with
sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them
pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and
dogs
And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats
and dogs
He left us kids on the corner of the street with
sparking clogs
Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them
pearly gates
To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and
dogs