Mid 1900-1999, Belgium, An Antwerp Square

Belgium. Antwerp, a Market Square by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) Unsigned to the front, signed and inscribed to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Sheet 9.75 x 11 inches Pretty little painting by Leon. Rowe, likely to be 1950 as many of the Antwerp and Bruges / Brussels scenes we have were dated. Inscribed to the back as Antwerp and “morning”. This sheet is smaller than the others we have by this artist from Belgium and Luxembourg, but despite its slightly smaller size it does not want for colour and activity. The scene is crammed with figures and a covered cart making its way out of the square. Clearly a busy morning. 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 central 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. In the sky area there are some small dark paint marks made inadvertently by the artist, and a faint pencil line is visible, running across the sheet around one inch from the top. This could be matted and framed off. The image is clean and clear with good strong colour.