Any Knowledgeable Ls Lowry Fans On Here?

[10ClarionSt]

I ask because I am baffled by this painting by Lowry called The Middleton Steps
https://img.kingandmcgaw.com/i/prints/1000/kingandmcgaw/4/1/418630.jpg
These steps still exist. I live just 2 minutes walk from them. However, in the painting, Lowry has inserted a cemetery at the left hand side of the steps. I know there was never a cemetery there. It would have to have been church land but there used to be a shop at the bottom of the steps, on the left, called Kents'. There were also houses at the top of the steps on the left when Lowry painted this in 1960. Why would he have included a cemetery that wasn't there? I'm baffled. Any thoughts anyone?

[10ClarionSt]

Here are the steps as they are now.
http://c7.alamy.com/comp/DYN4HH/the-24-steps-in-middleton-greater-manchester-as-depicted-by-ls-lowry-DYN4HH.jpg
The building at the top of the steps in the Lowry painting was Morton St Methodist Church, now demolished. Princess Anne visited there approx 30 years ago but I don't know what the occasion was.

[vulcan42]

Artistic licence. Artist's add or remove features to balance the composition or because something is in the wrong place. In this case it looks as if the churchyard has been added to balance the light area on the right. Artist don't restrict themselves to just what's there, a photograph can do that.

[Mamyalynne]

I may be wrong but this article has a discussion which mentions chapel,steps and gravestones.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/the-northerner/2017/may/12/ls-lowry-24-steps-middleton-painting-1960

[woofgang]

The bloke who commissioned the picture says you are wrong.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/the-northerner/2017/may/12/ls-lowry-24-steps-middleton-painting-1960

btw the picture you have posted is called 'Old Church and Steps
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/dont-let-lowry-steps-go-to-ruin-1086575

[jourdain2]

Artistic endeavour and metaphor? Possibly because he was indicating the 'sausage machine of life'. You are good, you attend church, you work, you end up in the graveyard. Lowry was good at realism - but he was an artist and artists are not photographers. He will have altered things because he had a point to make. I have suggested one - but it is not for me to interpret his meaning. It makes a good painting. Don't know if this is any help.

[bhg481]

Lowry also painted "A Street Scene in Clitheroe", where I was brought up; it's not very accurate. I can recognise where it is but he's certainly modified it and inserted a factory where there has never been one. I suspect he's done with your picture.

[Buenchico]

As has been suggested, it's probably just a bit of artistic licence, possibly done to incorporate the cemetery which was behind the church:
https://ibb.co/9py8Tvd

[10ClarionSt]

Woofgang, I am not wrong about the cemetery. There was never a cemetery in that location. People who have lived here all their lives will testify to that. The old Providence Church that is mentioned in the article isn't the one in the painting. Providence Church is just round the corner on Market Place and is now in delapidated condition. There is a cemetery behind it which is part of St Leonards Parish Church. That will be the cemetery the article refers to. There was never a cemetery at the side of the steps.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks for the replies folks. You're all probably correct. Artistic licence. Hey ho!

[10ClarionSt]

Bob Smithies also worked for Granada Trelevision and used to present the local evening news programme. He lived in Middleton and the last I heard, it was him who owned the painting.

[Zacs-Master]

An extract from 1960 OS map. No cemetary to left (south) of steps.
https://ibb.co/yQTFrp2

[Jackdaw33]

[Buenchico]

>>> No cemetary to left (south) of steps

Perhaps more importantly, Zacs, the building opposite the top of the steps was neither a church nor a chapel. It was a clothing factory!

[barry1010]

Buenchico, it was Morton Street Methodist Chapel until it was occupied by the Chaytow clothing factory in 1960. Lowry must have seen it before the chapel closed.

[Zacs-Master]

Well spotted, Chris (It was early). If Lowry and the journalist / photographer were walking along the lower street rather than Morton St at the top of the steps, they may not have realised it's conversion.