L.S. Lowry
Discus Thrower (Recto); Man Punting (Verso), 1906
Pencil on paper
We've just taken consignment of a marvellous example of Lowry's earliest work, a double-sided drawing produced when he was only 19.
After leaving school Lowry would spend his evenings taking private art lessons in antique and freehand drawing. In 1905 he secured a place at the prestigious Manchester School of Art, where he studied under the French Impressionist Pierre Adolphe Valette. For the rest of his life he stressed the importance of these formative experiences in his evolution as an artist. These two drawings were executed as part of Lowry's studies. Drawing from casts of classical marble sculptures had been the traditional way of learning to draw for centuries, and "The Discus Thrower" is a typical example of this sort of exercise.
What isn't so typical is the incredible dexterity of Lowry's use of line and form. This drawing shows off his incredible gifts as a draughtsman and reminds us that beneath the naive appearance of his iconic later style lies an incredibly perceptive eye and advanced understanding of technical practice. This discipline, hard work and talent is the bedrock for everything we know and love about Lowry.
The drawing on the reverse - "Man Punting" - is very different in character. The handling here is much flatter, though still subject to an exquisite and carefully-controlled line. We can almost begin to see signs of Lowry's later style beginning to crystallise.
A lovely detail about these drawings is the plethora of tiny pinholes that crowd the corners of the sheet as Lowry pinned it up and took it down over and over again. These images much have been important reference points for Lowry that he kept returning to, working drawings that allowed him to refine his practice. To look at these drawings is to watch the legend of this great British artist being born.
Two drawings for the price of one!
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
