The Great British Art Tour: the birthplace of a future prime minister

With public art collections closed we are bringing the art to you, exploring highlights from across the country in partnership with Art UK. Today’s pick: David Lloyd George’s Birthplace, Manchester in the Lowry, Salford

An image that could have been made at the height of lockdown, this deserted street corner by Laurence Stephen Lowry is a surprise from an artist better known for his crowded city landscapes. Lowry often recorded the ebb and flow of people’s daily lives; the striking absence of any living soul here has an unsettling resonance with what many of us have experienced over the past year. Indeed, there is a mournful feel to the house at the centre of the picture, with its narrow, black front door, partially drawn curtains and pavement-level window to a dark basement. Only a hint of colour in the flowers in the window strays from the repetitive palette.

The house is the birthplace of David Lloyd George. Described as “the most famous Welshman ever born in Manchester”, he became the youngest member of the House of Commons and was prime minister from 1916-22. Despite a career clouded by accusations of corruption, he is considered one of the chief architects of the UK’s welfare state and he continued to campaign for progressive causes until his death in 1945.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3tRhMbD