Mid 1900-1999 Belgium. Gent, a Morning Market

Belgium. Gent Morning Market 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 11 x 15 inches Charming painting by Leon. Rowe, dated on the back as June 1950. Inscribed to the back as a morning sketch in a market in Gent. It depicts a bustling market place, accessed though a stone archway. You can almost hear the clamour of people in this scene, it was clearly a very nice 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. Signed front lower right. To the back are his signature again, date 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 (especially along the uppermost edge on this sheet). There are two areas where the artist applied too much water with his paint – the very upper right corner sky area and an area against the building wall above the central canopy. The image is good and clear, with strong colour.