Mid 1900-1999 Belgium, Ghent, St Nicholas Church

Belgium: Ghent. St Nicholas Church ( Sint Niklaaskerk) by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) signed lower left watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image: 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11 x 15 inches Super bustling painting by Leon. Rowe in the centre of Ghent, depicting a busy square full of people on a bright sunny day. A man pushes a wooden cart, whilst others are strolling around the shop-lined streets in front of St Nicholas Church. A bright striped shop window awning can be seen to the right. Most of these shops no longer exist, the space around the church is now widened for transport and tourist features. It is inscribed to the back, and dated ’58 also on the back. 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, additional inscription and date to the back. This work forms part of a watercolour collection we currently hold by Rowe. Known as Leon Rowe, the artist was born in Staffordshire, 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. The image is contained within a blank white margin area, the margin has marks and rough edges but the image remains clear. Some dark shading to the centre of the upper margin which only just drifts onto the image, as do some paint marks made by the artist, but once framed and matted this very minor would not be seen. Good colour throughout.