Discover Lowry’s loneliness in The Lakes
If you thought Lowry’s works could only be seen in Salford, or that this renowned artist only painted pictures of crowds of people in urban settings, head to the beautiful Lake District and feast on a brand new exhibition 'The Loneliness of Lowry'.
In the historic market town of Kendal, gateway to The Lakes, the Abbot Hall Gallery is showing the first major solo exhibition of Lowry to be on view outside of Salford in the last five years.
The 'Loneliness of Lowry' exhibition offers unique insights into Lowry’s inherent loneliness, focusing on seascapes, landscapes, urban landscapes and portraits. The artist travelled extensively in the North West as many of the works demonstrate.
Compelling seascapes, including The Empty Sea (1945), Seascape (1952) and The Grey Sea (1963), are joined by various dramatic landscape paintings featuring mountains and lakes, depicting scenery from around Cumbria.
Lowry claimed none of his paintings would have happened had he not been lonely. This exhibition, with its stunning landscape paintings, its vacant seascapes, moving portraits and quirky works such as Man Lying On A Wall (1957) and Man With Trilby Hat, draws on the loneliness theme in a truly moving way.
Many of the Lowry works are rarely accessible to art lovers, as they come from private collections, including those of London’s Crane Kalman Gallery. The opportunity to view these paintings, and other fabulous works, is not-to-be-missed.
The 'Loneliness of Lowry' exhibition, featuring around 50 of Lowry’s works in oil and on paper, runs to October 30 at Abbot Hall, Kendal. Admission costs £5.75 for an adult and is free for children up to the age of 18, or age 25 if in full time education. Abbot Hall is open from Monday to Saturday, but closed on Sundays.
The Gallery is viewed as a jewel in the art world, due to its unique setting in a Grade 1 listed villa, next to the River Kent. It is a relaxed, light and airy gallery and has few roped off areas. Its care in hanging works of art is one reason why it is selected to show prestigious exhibitions the envy of other galleries.
A pay-and-display car park is available right outside Abbot Hall, which is on the same site as the Museum of Lakeland Life. A park with picnic benches and play area is also close at hand, whilst others can reflect on the exhibition in the Abbot Hall coffee shop, over a refreshment, cold snack or hot meal.
Further information is available at abbothall.org.uk whilst accommodation in Kendal and the South Lakes can be sourced at southlakeland.gov.uk/tourism.
