Worship

"A Portrait of Ann" 1957

One of Lowry's favourite images. He was photographed several times with this picture just happening to be in the camera's gaze. Who was she? Perhaps a metaphor for his late mother.

Below there's the lyrics of a minor hit in the UK in 1978 - just two years after Lowry's death. Some awkward lines but don't you think that it's quite refreshing when popular songwriters shelve their obsession with romantic love? Lowry was perhaps the most unlikely subject for a pop song.

MATCHSTALK MEN AND MATCHSTALK CATS AND DOGS
(Burke / Coleman)

Brian & Michael - 1978

He painted Salford's smokey tops

On cardboard boxes from the shops

And parts of Ancoats where I used to play

I'm sure he once walked down our street

Cause he painted kids who had nowt on their feet

The clothes we wore had all seen better days.

Now they said his works of art were dull

No room, all round the walls are full

But Lowry didn't care much anyway

They said he just paints cats and dogs

And matchstalk men in boots and clogs

And Lowry said that's just the way they'll stay

And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs

He painted kids on the corner of the street with the sparking clogs

Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates

To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs

Now canvas and brushes were wearing thin

When London started calling him

To come on down and wear the old flat cap

They said tell us all about your ways

And all about them Salford days

Is it true you're just an ordinary chap

And he painted matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs

He painted kids on the corner of the street with the sparking clogs

Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them factory gates

To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs

Now Lowries hang upon the wall

Beside the greatest of them all

And even the Mona Lisa takes a bow

This tired old man with hair like snow

Told northern folk its time to go

The fever came and the good Lord mopped his brow

And he left us matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs

He left us kids on the corner of the street with sparking clogs

Now he takes his brush and he waits outside them pearly gates

To paint his matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs "A Manufacturing Town" 1922 - Here the figures are more anatomically correct. His matchstick men style is just starting to emerge.