Mid 1900-1999, Belgium, Antwerp, a double-sided painting

Belgium. Antwerp, a Double Sided Painting of a Busy Square by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed and dated lower left on both sides watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11.x 15 inches Tweo paintings, one on each side of this sheet, by Leon. Rowe. Both sides are signed and dated ’50. The scenes are almost idential, with small differences to the figures, so you may choose which version you wish to frame. The Cathedral of our Lady is seen in the background, with a square in the foreground – busy with colourful figures going about their daily business, and some vehicles. 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. Signed front lower right on each side, dated ’50. Inscribed as Antwerp. 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. There is a white border margin around the work on each side, and within that border margin are numerous marks and discolouration. The images on each side are clean and clear with good strong colour (there is, however, on both sides a very small amount of dark discolouration on the top central part of the images in the sky, impacting the paintings faintly for around a half-inch).