Newsbeat

Lowry 'Lennon' picture sells for £22,800

15th June 2005

A pencil sketch, Standing Figures, by Salford-born Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976) fetched £22,800 at auction yesterday. The drawing is of five figures, one of whom looks like John Lennon.

A spokeswoman for Bonhams auction house commented: "When purchasing it, Lowry commented to the (then) owner that the central figure in the composition had a stark resemblance to John Lennon.

"Although never confirmed whether this was intentional, the fact the work was executed in 1964 at the height of Beatlemania cannot be overlooked."

The price tag on the drawing was paid by a private anonymous telephone bidder. Its seller, also anonymous, had originally bought the drawing at Lowry's home in Moreton, Gloucestershire, in 1970. He was twice invited to Lowry's home, once so Lowry could vet him to see if he was genuinely interested in his work and secondly to choose a piece from his collection.

"We chuckled about the coincidental portrayal of Lennon", he said, "and I thought it interesting how he spoke so openly about his work as though discussing somebody else's work."

[Lowry sketch]
Lowry sketch, Standing Figures

Sources: BBC News Online, Liverpool Echo, Scotland on Sunday, Guardian Unlimited