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Lot 68AR
Laurence Stephen Lowry R.A.(British, 1887-1976)Bird Looking at Something 14.8 x 14.8 cm. (5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Amended
18 June 2025, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £70,250 inc. premium
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Laurence Stephen Lowry R.A. (British, 1887-1976)
Bird Looking at Something
signed and indistinctly dated 'L.S.Lowry 196' (lower right)
oil on board
14.8 x 14.8 cm. (5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Painted in 1964
signed and indistinctly dated 'L.S.Lowry 196' (lower right)
oil on board
14.8 x 14.8 cm. (5 3/4 x 5 3/4 in.)
Painted in 1964
Footnotes
Provenance
Monty Bloom
With Martin Grimes, Liverpool, where probably acquired by the family of the present owner
Private Collection, U.K.
Literature
Julian Spalding, Lowry, Phaidon, Oxford, 1979, pl.45 (col.ill., where dated 1964)
David McLean, L. S. Lowry, The Medici Society Ltd, London, 1994, p.24, (ill.b&w)
L.S. Lowry is best known for his industrial scenes featuring vast urban landscapes filled with crowds of "matchstick" figures. However, as in the present work, he also created works that focus on single objects, often stripping down his compositions to one central element. These paintings are interesting because they represent a departure from his more populated city scenes and offer a closer, more intimate look at individual subjects. The single-object paintings are often quite minimalist, with a focus on one primary item—a figure, a boat, a carriage. These works reflect Lowry's ability to simplify a scene while still conveying emotional depth. The object is often depicted in a flat, stylized way, much like his urban figures, but with a sense of isolation or contemplation. And although most commonly recognised for his gritty portrayals of industrial life, animals and birds do appear in his body of work. Usually, they are not presented as the central focus and are more commonly represented by domestic animals such as cats and dogs, they are walked by men and women and stand as witnesses to human events. Birds make occasional appearances, often as a small detail within a broader scene such as depicted in flight above his industrial landscapes. Small, silhouetted birds appear against the expansive skies, adding a sense of scale and contrast to the otherwise stark, machine-dominated world. This imagery might be interpreted as a reflection on the coexistence of life and industry, or the resilience of nature in the face of human progress.
Here, the bijou oil is focused on a single robin standing on a branch looking out of the picture plane. In typical Lowry form however, rather than simply being a charming nature study, the artist adds an element of intrigue with his chosen title as the diminutive creature is depicted 'looking at something'. Julian Spalding comments "Lowry liked anything that exhibited an independent life of its own. The fat robin in Plate 45 is a funny, ungainly ball of feathers that is so intent on something it has seen away to the left (probably a worm) that it has absolutely no time for its creator, or the rest of us" (Lowry, Phaidon, Oxford, 1979, p.13). Two other single birds, black birds on branches also dating from 1964, have previously appeared at auction (see Sale; Christie's, 25 January 1991, as lots 131 and 132, where sold for £5,163 and £8,138) but these examples are rare. Originally owned by Monty Bloom, one of Lowry's most prominent advocates, this lot enjoys exceptional provenance and it is not hard to see why he would wish to own such an endearing oil by the artist.
Saleroom notices
Please note that there is additional exhibition information for this lot as follows: Newcastle, The Stone Gallery, The Later Paintings of LS Lowry from the Monty Bloom Collection, 23 October-14 November 1964, cat.no.34 London, Hamet Gallery, LS Lowry, 21 September-21 October 1972, cat.no.41 London, Royal Academy of Arts, LS Lowry RA 1887-1976, 4 September-14 November 1976, cat.no.288 (ill.b&w.) Salford, Museum and Art Gallery, LS Lowry: The Centenary Exhibition, 16 October-29 November 1987 cat.no.224 Durham, Museum and Arts Centre, ...moments of being..., organised by the South Bank Centre, 30 April-5 June 1988, this exhibition travelled to Bristol, City Museum and Art Gallery, 11 June-16 July, Norwich, Castle Museum, 23 July-28 August and Nottingham, Castle Museum, 3 September-9 October (ill.)