This 1967 oil on board, which had been personally given by Bradley to the father of the vendor, was inscribed on the verso with one of artist’s typical inscriptions explaining the nostalgic mise en scène: “I said Goodbye to L.S. Lowry.” He said to me “why don’t you paint – just try”, but I shook my head. “Alas, I haven’t the time.”
Five years later, at the ripe old age of 60, Bradley did manage to find the time to paint and this and numerous other evocations of the formative moments of her life were the result.
This particular example sold to a Monte Carlo collector for £47,000, just below the upper estimate.
That Lowry moment captured forever…
COLLECTORS who love the art of L.S. Lowry but can only afford Helen Bradley (1900-1979) were presented with the picture of their dreams when this 11 by 14in (27 x 36cm) oil, right, of the momentous and inspirational meeting between Lowry and Bradley outside the 1955 Saddleworth Art Group’s Exhibition came up for sale at the Chichester rooms of Henry Adams (15% buyer’s premium) on April 28.
