L.S. Lowry

• TAL
• Special Education

L.S. LOWRY

Learning objective

I am learning about the English artist 

Laurence Stephen Lowry

What do you already know about the artist L.S Lowry?

Who was L.S Lowry?

Laurence Stephen Lowry was an English artist born on 1st November, 1887 in Stretford, Manchester. 

L.S Lowry is particularly well known for painting industrial scenes and matchstick characters.

He died on 23rd February 1976 (age 88 years),

Early childhood

By his own account, Lowry had an unhappy childhood as he never felt wanted or appreciated by his mother. She had always wanted a baby girl.

Weath/upbringing

He came from quite a well-off family and not from the working class, as lots of people thought. 

They thought this because this is what he 

mostly painted - working class life scenes!

Not just an artist!

Even though he was an artist, he had a ‘normal’ everyday job as well. He worked as a rent collector for a company called Pall Mall in Manchester. He worked there all his life until he retired when he was 65. 

Marital Status

He was quite a solitary person, keeping himself to himself, he never married or had children. 

What do the initials L.S stand for?

1. Larry Stephen
2. Luke Stephen
3. Laurence Stephen
4. Lenny Stephen

In what city was Lowry born?

1. London
2. Manchester
3. Birmingham
4. Oxford

What scenes was Lowry most famous for painting?

1. Green landscapes
2. Starry skies
3. Pop art
4. Industrial scenes

Why did Lowry have an unhappy childhood?

1. He was small for his age
2. He lived in poverty
3. His mother didn't want/appreciate him
4. He grew up in an orphanage

As well as being an artist, what other job did Lowry have?

1. Lorry driver
2. Rent collector
3. Lifeguard
4. Teacher

How many children did Lowry have?

1. 0
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3

Lowry's inspiration

One day Laurence Stephen Lowry had been going about his job collecting rent and had missed a train. 

He found himself mesmerised by the streets and buildings surrounding him in the part of Manchester he was in and felt he just had to draw them.

Industrial scenes

He is best known for his pictures of industrial scenes of towns in the north of England, including his home town of Manchester. 

His pictures would include buildings like factories and cotton mills, with lots of workers and passers-by. 

Matchstick men and women

The people in his pictures were not very detailed, in fact they are often called ‘matchstick men’ 

In 1978, a song called 'Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs' was written in tribute to Lowry. It spent three weeks at number one in the charts.

How long did the song 'Matchstick men and Matchstick cats and dogs' spend at number 1 in the charts?

1. 1 week
2. 2 weeks
3. 3 weeks
4. 4 weeks

Some of Lowry's famous paintings

This painting is called 'Going to the Match' and depicts people going to a rugby league match back in Manchester in 1928.

This famous Lowry painting is called 'Coming out of School' and was painted by Lowry in 1927. This is the painting Lowry class have recreated on their class display

This painting is called 'Going to work' and was painted by Lowry in 1943.

Going to the match

Coming out of school

Going to work

True

False

Lowry was born in Manchester, in the north of England. 

Lowry used to draw matchstick people

L.S. Lowry’s full name is Luke Sam Lowry. 

Lowry is famous for drawing pictures of towns in the 

South of England. 

The song ‘Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs’ reached number three in the charts. 

'Coming out of school' was the name of a famous Lowry painting

Write something you have learned about Lowry from this lesson.