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Bury's LS Lowry painting sold for £1.25m

17/11/2006

A painting by LS Lowry which was out up for sale by Bury Council has raised £1.25 million at a Christie's auction of 20th century British art.

A Riverbank a depiction of the River Irwell was expected to fetch between £500,000 and £800,000.

The council auctioned the painting to help plug a £10 million deficit in its accounts.

Selling the LS Lowry painting has been the cause of some controversy and has prompted the Museum Association to consider disciplinary action against the council.

Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said that the council could be excluded from the body, effectively placing a public funding boycott on the town's art gallery.

"It really is deeply irresponsible of Bury to start flogging off some of their pictures," Mr Taylor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He said that the council was depriving future generations in Bury the chance to see the picture.

The council has accused the Museums Association of being ignorant and out of touch with the needs of its citizens.




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