Mid 1900-1999, Belgium. Bruges, Milk Cart Drawn by a Dog

Belgium. Bruges, “Milk Cart” by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed front lower right, inscribed to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 15.25 x 11 inches Really delightful painting by Leon. Rowe, very likely to be a 1950 painting as many of his Bruges paintings we have on identical paper are dated for that year. Charmingly inscribed as “morning”. It depicts a bustling street with a cart loaded with milk flagons, pulled by a large dog. The cart owner is busy in conversation, or amid a transaction, with another figure. Dog carts were commonly used to deliver a variety of essential goods. More often there were two dogs to pull a cart, a single dog – as seen in this image – was usually used by peddlers, or street hawkers. 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. To the back are his initials and the inscription. 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 discolouration (and the start of some very tiny tears on the top edge which do not get near the image). In the upper right corner there is a small fold in the margin area, again this does not affect the image. The image is good and clear, with strong colour.