LS Lowry painting originally bought for £10 expected to fetch up to £1 million
The painting, Going To The Mill, was bought by Arthur Wallace for £10 in 1926 and has been in the same family ever since.
It is now going up for auction for the first time at Mall Galleries, central London, with Lyon & Turnbull fine auctioneers where it is estimated to sell for between £700,000 and £1 million.
Lowry completed Going To The Mill in 1925, with the painting reflecting his signature style of industrial landscapes and figures.
It is believed to be one of the earliest sales made by the Stretford-born painter.
The painting was originally bought by Arthur Wallace, the Manchester Guardian's literary editor, who used it to mark Manchester Civic Week, celebrating the city's industrial success.
Going To The Mill is marked on the back as being £30, but Lowry let Mr Wallace have it for £10.
Recently on long-term loan to Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, the artwork has been in the Wallace family for the last century.
He also gifted him an additional work, The Manufacturing Town, which the family sold several years ago.
Explaining the original sale, Mr Wallace's grandson Keith Wallace said: 'Lowry said with great daring: 'Could we say £10?' and Grandpa wrote a cheque.
'Then Lowry wrote back to him saying: 'I think I've charged you too much. Can I give you another one as well?'. So Grandpa got two Lowrys for his £10.'
The Wallace family still have Lowry's letter from November 9 1926 where he writes: 'Many thanks for your letter and cheque for £10.
'I am very glad Mrs Wallace likes the picture Going to Work and take the liberty of asking you to please accept The Manufacturing Town as a souvenir of the Civic Week.'
According to Simon Hucker, senior specialist in modern and contemporary art at the Lyon & Turnbull auction house, Going To The Mill is a rare yet classic Lowry painting.
He said: 'Going To The Mill is the epitome of a 1920s Lowry, when he truly becomes a unique voice.
'It is especially rare for a painting such as this to have had only one owner.
'A work of similar size and date sold from HSBC's collection last year went for £1.2 million.
'We are very proud to present this painting to the market for the first time since it was sold directly by Lowry.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Who could replace John Torode and Gregg Wallace as BBC's new MasterChef's judges
Now John Torode and Gregg Wallace have been fired from BBC's MasterChef – who could be stepping into their shoes? The overhaul comes after an independent review commissioned by production company Banijay, into misconduct accusations against Wallace, 60, upheld 45 of the 83 allegations, leading to his official removal from the cooking reality series. Torode, 59, exited hot on his heels after admitting he was subject to the racial language accusation featured in the review, although he has claimed he has 'no recollection' of the incident. The BBC is now deciding what to do with all their pre-recorded content, including one MasterChef season with Torode and Wallace, and a Celebrity MasterChef season, as well as two festive specials with just Torode. The broadcaster has reiterated its commitment to giving the amateur chefs featured in the unaired season their chance to shine. Meanwhile, the director-general Tim Davie has said he sees a future for the show beyond 2028 (the year until which the contract is currently renewed), all of which means, new hosts are likely to be announced at some point. According to the latest rumours, here's who could be helming the show for its fresh start. Coming in strong as a frontrunner is restaurant critic Grace Dent, who was already tipped to be replacing Wallace even before Torode's sacking. The I'm A Celeb star, 51, started her journey on the BBC reality competition series as a contestant on the 2023 Christmas special. After Wallace was removed from the series at the end of 2024 after the misconduct allegation first came to light, Dent stepped in for him alongside Torode to film the new season of Celebrity MasterChef. Although it was unclear whether she would make the jump to the amateur series as a permanent replacement for Gregg, all signs point towards yes. Last week, The Sun reported that she was being lined up to take over to provide the show with a 'fresh start'. 'Grace is a natural fit for the show,' a source told the publication. 'She is also hosting Celebrity MasterChef alongside John. Grace loves to support up-and-coming talent in the industry and loves the format of the show.' Meanwhile, Pointless host Richard Osman added on the Rest is Entertainment podcast: 'Grace Dent hosted half of the celebrity one – whether we'll see that or not – but she can continue to host the celebrity one very very easily.' Earlier this year, BBC star Matt Tebbutt, 51, was posed as a potential replacement on both The Professionals and the traditional series after his success almost decade-long success presenting Saturday Kitchen. 'Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin,' an insider told The Sun at the time. The source added: 'He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was – now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.' Osman added: 'There are so many great food presenters, Matt Tebbutt is now doing stuff on the professionals one for example, he'd be an amazing host for it.' What's more, in recent weeks, Tebbutt has also hinted that his tenure on Saturday Kitchen could come to an end in the near future. 'It's going to stop at some point. I'm going to have to do something,' he said on a podcast in March. Great British Menu star Andi Oliver, 62, has come forward as a top candidate to take over. According to the Gogglebox star has quickly become the fan-favourite at 5/2. 'Known for her upbeat energy and authority on Great British Menu, Andi's culinary credibility has made her a top choice among fans and bookmakers alike,' the site explained, per the Mirror. This casting would also mean she makes history as the first Black woman to present the show. Speaking about the MasterChef scandal when it first kicked off last year, Oliver told The Guardian 'there's a certain culture that allows it to happen.' The Stirring It Up podcast host (presented with her daughter Miquita Oliver) added: 'Culture will only change if we stop all the fake outrage and actually implement change.' Michelin-starred English chef Tom Kerridge is hot on Oliver's heels with his odds at 3/1. The multi-restaurant owner (Hand and Flowers and Coach) has hosted various BBC shows including The Hidden World of Hospitality, Tom Kerridge's Fresh Start and Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge – so he has form. Odds analyst Dave James told The Mirror that Tom 'is attracting a lot of support.' James added: 'His profile is huge, and he's one of the most trusted names in British food. This could come down to what direction the BBC wants – prestige, relatability, or a bit of both.' Influencer Poppy O'Toole is a more left-field suggestion, but going strong in the odds at 4/1. The TikTok star grew to fame for her 'potato' series in which she showcased the many, many ways you can cook the humble spud. Now, she boasts 4.8 million followers. The chef, who has a strong following among the younger generation, has also made the jump to mainstream media as a regular fixture on ITV's This Morning and has even appeared as a judge on Cooking with the Stars. The cookbook writer could well draw in new viewers to the show as it heralds in a new era. There are several other names in the mix from the high-profile stars such as James Martin and Nigella Lawson, to those who have already played in the MasterChef field. More Trending This includes The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing and Irish chef Anna Haugh, who has stepped in for Wallace already. British-Italian cook Angela Hartnett, who was Gordon Ramsey's protégée, has also been floated as an option with her odds at 5/1. She has also appeared as a judge on Great British Menu with Andi, giving them a pre-existing working relationship. Finally, Great British Bake Off star Nadiya Hussain's name has also been floated – although the BBC recently announced they would not be producing anymore shows with her, which she has vocally criticised. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: John Torode doesn't remember using racist language – that's a problem MORE: Sky's Dermot Murnaghan 'mistakenly thought he was being tested for prostate cancer' before stage 4 diagnosis MORE: The Great British Sewing Bee is back – but I miss Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Hit musical about Celtic FC is coming back to Glasgow
'My dad saw this show at the Armadillo and loved it,' says the Castlemilk-born actor. 'He sadly died in May, so when I saw the auditions come up, I thought I'd try for a part and do it in his memory. I'm doing it for him.' Stephen is starring in Celtic The Musical, a reimagined version of the hit show which has been delighting audiences in Glasgow and on tour for almost a decade. The new cast of Celtic The Musical (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) It is coming to the Pavilion in September, and the Glasgow Times was given exclusive access to the new cast as they met for the first time at Celtic Park in the East End. Celtic The Musical follows the life and times of the Quinn family, as they support their beloved club through the generations, from its founding by Brother Walfrid in 1888 through the heady days of Jock Stein and the Lisbon Lions, to Brendan Rodgers' present-day squad. Songs include fan favourites Hail Hail, Over and Over and the spine-tingling You'll Never Walk Alone. Stephen, who is known for his work on a string of TV series and films including Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance, Vigil and Mayflies, is making his Celtic The Musical debut. 'It's exciting – hopefully we're bringing something new and fresh to the show, a different dynamic,' he says. Julie Duncanson and Stephen McCole (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) 'It's a show really about how this club has been an anchor for families to share experiences, to cry together a bit, to support each other.' He grins: 'And I'm sure if my dad is watching somewhere, he'll be laughing his a**e off at me. If the lights start to go a bit funny in the middle of it, I'll know he's there …' (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) Elysia Welch is also new to the production. The Southside-based actor, who plays Rosie, is delighted to be joining the show. 'I'm a Celtic fan, so I'm really excited,' she says, smiling. 'Rosie is sassy, she knows a lot about Celtic and she and her brother are constantly back and forth at each other, so it's a bit like me and my siblings. 'I can't wait.' Former River City star Julie Duncanson is reprising her role as Quinn family matriarch Mary. 'The audience makes the show – they bring all their love and enthusiasm and it's great to be part of that,' says Julie, who is from North Glasgow. (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) Gary: Tank Commander star James Rottger is also returning to the production. 'This will make it four-in-row,' he says, wryly. 'Just like Celtic has just done. I feel like my character, Tommy, has aged with me along the way. 'It's a great show, always changing and staying fresh.' (Image: Gordon Terris/Newsquest) Keith Warwick, who is a veteran of the production, having performed in it twice at the Pavilion, and at the Armadillo and on tour, agrees the show 'has to evolve' with each run. 'You want to keep it up to date and fresh, because the story of Celtic keeps going,' says the Govan-born actor. 'The main theme though does not change – it's about family, it's about refugees being made welcome in Glasgow because that's the roots of this club, and it's about the highs and lows of life.' Keith, who is well-known for a string of TV and stage roles including My Parents Are Aliens and The Bill, is a dyed-in-the-wool Celtic fan, so he is delighted to be talking about this in the home of his favourite club. He is also well aware of how much the story means to the fans. 'If I can just name-drop for a moment,' he says, mock-apologetically, 'Brendan Rodgers spoke to me at the last run and asked me if I got nervous waiting in the wings, because the atmosphere at this show is so raucous. 'I told him as a fan, I was over the moon, and so excited, but as a professional, you have to control yourself.' He adds, smiling: 'If you don't rein it in, the audience will take over and you'll just be singing songs all night. And people have got buses to catch.' Celtic The Musical will be at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow from September 4 to 27.
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Vernon Kay hits back at 'freebie' backlash after attending several Oasis gigs
Vernon Kay owned up to using his credit card to pay for two expensive purchases that had social media users fuming Vernon Kay has been criticised following an action-packed weekend, as the star made a recent admission about his social life. But fans have shrugged off the criticism, rallying around the presenter to show their support. The BBC Radio 2 star was among the first to witness Liam and Noel Gallagher reunite on stage for the inaugural gig of their Oasis Live '25 tour in Cardiff earlier this month. Not content with just one performance, the Bolton-born star made his way to Manchester to catch Oasis ' comeback at Heaton Park, attending both gigs on Friday (July 11) and Saturday (July 12). Vernon shared a clip from Liam and Noel's first homecoming concert on Instagram, where he was seen donning sunglasses and a New York Cosmos shirt, belting out the lyrics to "Live Forever." He captioned the video: "Manchester! Day1. @oasis The excellence continues! Bravo!!" However, some followers questioned how he managed to secure tickets to multiple shows in the comments of his post. Social media user @lfcarbz queried: "How did Vernon get so many tickets? Cardiff now Manchester!" to which Vernon responded: "Paid for them!!" User @alanthomas1965 also commented: "A lot of people couldn't get tickets for 1 gig you've managed 2 I wonder how that is," prompting Vernon to admit: "Smashed the credit card, Alan!" On Saturday (July 12), Vernon updated his Instagram again, revealing he had stayed in Manchester over the weekend to enjoy the Henley Festival. Donning a crisp white shirt, dickie bow and sunglasses for the event, he enjoyed performances by club legends Hacienda Classical, fronted by Graeme Park. Vernon shared a clip from the concert on social media, exclaiming: "@fac51thehaciendaofficial @graemepark What a superb night @henleyfestival!! B2B Manchester icons in two days! "(And for those who are gonna get the wet wipes out, our dear friend Mr. Park who we've admired since '89! ! Sorted us out!) Rave on Brothers and Sisters!! Nothing but [heart emojis]." Vernon has since posted an update showing how he spent his latest weekend, which included a trip to Wimbledon with his eldest daughter, Phoebe. In his post, the ex-Family Fortunes host wrote: "Well what a weekend! "Not dusted off the cobwebs like that in a long time!! @oasis @fac51thehaciendaofficial classical with @graemepark and @wimbledon with @champagnelanson. Back garden and the new lawnmower await!!" Fans were quick to express their enthusiasm. Social media user @ commented: "Who cares if he bought a ticket or not? Being a Celebrity comes with benefits." While @janetjeans said: "You deserve it!," and @hayley_mc76 remarked: "Good on you Vernon, enjoy the gardening." User @ responded: "LOVED seeing your action packed weekend." Another fan, @rubyeyelashes added: "Glad you enjoyed everything that's what it's about! And a new lawnmower!! Get in!" Meanwhile, @maxiflamingo cheered on: "Good for you Vernon! If you get the chance, go for it!! You still got time to plant beetroots!" @andreacassidy7 chimed in with enthusiasm: "Flipping love it! We only have one life!!"
