Mid 1900-1999, Belgium, Antwerp Cathedral of our Lady

Belgium. Antwerp, Cathedral of our Lady by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed front lower left, inscribed to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11.25 x 14.25 inches Colourful and busy painting by Leon. Rowe, likely to be 1950 in date as we have several on identical artists paper from Belgium by this artist dated that year. It is signed front lower left and inscribed “Antwerp”. The artist painted this view of the Cathedral from a position in the large adjacent Grote Markt square, whilst he sat close to the famous 1700 – 1799 fountain seen to the right of the image. The market place is 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 left. To the back is his signature once again and numerous inscriptions by the artist relating to the fountain monument and nearby tomb locations. 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, and within that border margin are numerous marks and edge discolouration. The image is clean and clear with good strong colour (a small area of the dark marking in the border does reach into the image a small way on the top central edge, just where the cathedral tower disappears out of the image).