Laurence Stephen Lowry R.A. (British, 1887-1976)
Boats at Rhyl
signed and dated 'L S Lowry 1926' (lower left)
pencil
27.9 x 38.1 cm. (11 x 15 in.)
Footnotes:
Provenance
With Lefevre Gallery, London
Private Collection, U.K.

Literature
Mervyn Levy, The Drawings of L.S. Lowry, Jupiter Books, London, 1976, cat.no.88 (ill.b&w)

Despite the immediate association of Lowry as a painter of the hard industrial landscape, he did step outside of this urban world periodically to depict new environments such as the countryside and sea. The seaside itself held a particular draw for Lowry and he visited with regularity throughout his life, starting with holidays to Lytham St Anne's and Rhyl in North Wales as a young boy and then into his retirement. Indeed, some of the earliest known works created are drawings of the coast and in particular the sailing boats and yachts that fascinated him upon the water. Whilst not a sailor himself, his depictions of the nautical world show an affinity and quiet understanding of it, as can be observed in the present work. Boats at Rhyl is a relatively early drawing, having been executed in 1926, at a time when the resort was quieter than the bustling post-war years of heavy tourism that would follow. This is reflected in the absence of figures around the harbour and the sense of calm that pervades the entire scene. Lowry's works on paper of this period show a true understanding of successful draughtsmanship and the typically heavy use of pencil shading creates a striking composition.
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