Two rare London scenes by LS Lowry go on show

LS Lowry pictured in 1958 (Getty Images)

A painting by the acclaimed artist LS Lowry is to go on public display for the first time, but only after it was sent to a conservator to clean off the tomato ketchup stains.

Lowry, who was the focus of a major exhibition at Tate Britain last year, has become much sought-after at auction in recent years; just two months ago his Station Approach, Manchester sold for £2.3m.

Now two of his works, one oil painting and one drawing, are to go on display at the gallery that bears his name in Salford.

The pieces have been in private hands since the 1970s and show rare studies of London by an artist famed for his scenes of the North-West.

But first the oil painting had to be sent to a professional conservator to remove what the owners feared were “two small, and very old, tomato ketchup stains”.

They believed the culprits were the original owners’ children or grandchildren. The painting was also covered in a light layer of surface dirt.

Lowry completed the drawing in 1957 and the oil painting two years later. Both relate to a larger work, View of Deptford Power Station from Greenwich, which is in the National Maritime Museum’s collection in London.

Claire Stewart, curator of The Lowry’s collection, said: “Lowry was a regular visitor to London, but his views of the city are relatively rare. The best known are his paintings of Piccadilly Circus, which are busy with cars and pedestrians.

“His fascination with waterways, however, meant he was obviously drawn to the Thames – and these works are a great example of that. It’s very exciting to be able to display pictures which will be completely unknown to our visitors.”

The Lowry has the largest public collection of work by the artist, who died in 1976. Earlier this year a collection of 13 paintings sold at auction for more than £15m. The record for a Lowry is The Football Match, which sold for £5.6m in 2011.