Unique Lowry portrait provides fascinating insight

A self-portrait by LS Lowry is to go on display at The Lowry in Salford this weekend as part of a project called 'Coming Home'.

‘Coming Home’ is a major project which sees the National Portrait Gallery lend portraits of iconic individuals to places across the UK with which they are most closely associated.

The striking work, which Lowry simply titled ‘The Artist aged 51’ was painted the year that his mother was dying, the evident grief and anger are a rare expression of emotion in his work.

‘Coming Home’ has been made possible by the National Portrait Gallery, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, generous contributions from The Thompson Family Charitable Trust and funds raised at the Gallery’s Portrait Gala in 2017.

Commenting on the loan, Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive at The Lowry, said: “We are delighted to feature this stunning work in our permanent exhibition. 

“With our galleries set to re-open on May 22 in line with the government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown, it’s great to be able to share a work some Lowry fans might not have seen before.”

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery said: “We are delighted to lend the 1938 self-portrait of LS Lowry to The Lowry as part of the ‘Coming Home’ project. 

“We hope that sending portraits ‘home’ in this way will foster a sense of pride and create a personal connection for local communities to a bigger national history; thus helping us to fulfil our aim of being truly a national gallery for everyone, in our role as the nation’s family album.”

For more information about ‘Coming Home’, search #PortraitsComingHome on social media.

Salford’s favourite son, Lowry moved to Mottram in 1948 where he resided until his death in 1976, painting many important works there.