Mid 1900-1999, Luxembourg, Old Town and Bridge

Luxembourg. “Old Luxembourg” by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) Initialled lower right watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed Image 9.75 x 13.75 inches, sheet 11 x 15 inches Intriguing painting of part of the old town in Luxembourg, depicting a stone bridge crossing a waterway with figures busying about among the buildings. Charming work by Leon. Rowe, inscribed with the location and date of May ’50 on the back, and it is signed on the back. This offers very pleasing, soft and muted colours. 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. Initialled front lower right. Signed, dated and inscribed on 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. There is a white border margin around the work, and within that border margin are numerous marks and discolouration. There is a rough feel to an area of the sheet at the lower central edge of the painting (just below the central bridge arch) where it feels as though the artist got the sheet a little too wet whilst painting. Within the water area near that lower edge and on the bridge access the artist has used blue ink rather than paint to emphasise the water movement and the edge of the bridge wall. Overall the image is very frameable and will display very nicely.