Mid 1900-1999, Belgium, A Brussels Market Lottery Seller Scene

Belgium. Brussels – A Market Lottery Seller by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed, dated and inscribed front lower left corner, inscribed and signed to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11 x 14.75 inches Interesting painting by Leon. Rowe, signed and dated ’50 to the front, and signed again with an inscription to the back. We cannot quite decipher the square location but the artist has noted the gentleman in the small booth was a state lottery seller. The square is busy with customers at stalls, and a trader pushing a wooden handcart. A dog wags its tail eagerly at the lottery booth. Belgium and Luxembourg were two of Rowe’s favourite destinations for his painting trips overseas. Often incorporating figures into his work, his style is very similar to Thomas Morley’s paintings of French and Belgian market town scenes. This work forms part of a watercolour collection we currently hold by Rowe. Known as Leon Rowe, the artist was born in Staffordshire, England, in Christmas week of 1880. His career and business involved in him interior decoration, and the design and painting of theatre production stage scenery. He had a love of painting in watercolour for his own pleasure and the collection of work we currently hold by this artist shows exemplary skill. In his later years he was able to travel to Europe where much of his post war work was executed, although examples of his paintings are recorded as early as 1914, when he would have been around 25 years old. His earlier work shows his signature as Leon Rowe but the majority he signed as L M Rowe – as is the case here. He passed away in 1968. condition report: No tears or creases. There is a white unpainted margin around the edge of the sheet which has marks and discolouration, including some paint splashes. There are some graphite sketch markings where the artist prepared the paper for painting. Image overall is clear with good strong colour.