06/05/2008 00:25:00
Christie's in London will be selling recently resurfaced paintings by popular British artist Laurence Stephen Lowry in June.
According to the BBC, the sale of 20th Century British art on June 6 2008 will see several Lowry paintings up for grabs, including four of his major works which have a total estimated value of £2.2-£3 million. Last year, one of Lowry's paintings - Good Friday, Daisy Nook - sold for £3.8 million at auction. Christie's art sale will feature 183 lots and is expected to raise a total of more than £12.5 million overall.
The Lowry works featured include: The Sea, which has been in the present owner's family since 1944, A Cricket Match (completed in 1952) and An Old Church - a painting that has been out of the public eye since the 1940s and described as recently discovered.
The famous piece Manchester City vs Sheffield United, dated 1938, will also be under the hammer.
According to the BBC, Rachel Hidderley from Christie's said:
"Manchester City vs Sheffield United is from a small and important group of paintings in which Lowry records an actual event rather than a composite image of different locations or impressions."
The Lancashire artist, 1887-1976, was best known for his scenes of everyday life in the industrialised towns of northern England and he produced many works depicting the city of Salford, in which he lived and worked for more than 40 years.