LS Lowry's iconic painting 'Going to the Match' has finally been rehung at the Salford gallery which bears the painter's name after it was bought for £8.1million. The 1953 painting of people on their way to watch a Bolton Wanderers match at the former Burnden Park stadium was acquired by the gallery at a Christie's auction with the entire funding coming from the Law Family Charitable Foundation.
Initially, it was thought the painting was sold for £6.6m, but with fees and commission, the final price tag was nearly £2m more. 'Going to the Match' will now continue to hang in the gallery where it has been on display for the last 22 years.
It was taken down several months ago when the owner - the Professional Footballers Association - opted to sell it prompting fears it would be bought by a private collector and never be seen in public again. But as well as being on display at the Lowry for the next few months, there are now plans to take the painting 'on tour' around the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, said the gallery's chief executive Julia Fawcett and Salford city mayor Paul Dennett.
