Mid 1900-1999, Belgium, Bruges, The Market Square

Belgium. Bruges, The Market Square by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed front lower left, inscribed and dated to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11.25 x 15 inches Colourful and busy painting by Leon. Rowe, dated 1950 to the back. It is signed front lower left and inscribed to the back. The artist painted this view seated facing the 13th century Bell Tower and the Cloth Hall. The statue in the foreground is that of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck flying the Belgian flag. They were a butcher and a weaver who became folk heroes, fighting for freedom from the French. 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, the date and location. 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 (there is, however, a 7 inch length along the top right edge of the image where the artist applied too much water to his paint and it has left a water mark in the sky area. The image has exceptional strong and clear colour.