LOUIS GRIMSHAW
1870 - Leeds - 1944
Ref: CC 189
London Bridge from the south side of the river, with the Fishmongers Hall to the left
Signed and dated lower right: Louis H. Grimshaw / 6/94
Oil on canvas: 23 ¼ x 41 in / 59.1 x 104.1 cm
Provenance:
Sotheby & Co., London, 3rd April 1968, lot 47;
Richard Green, London;
Private collection, UK, 1968, then by descent
Born the son of the famous painter John Atkinson Grimshaw, Louis was strongly influenced by his father in his style and subject matter throughout his career. Father and son collaborated on works late in John Atkinson Grimshaw’s life, working side by side in the studio in the family home in Knostrop Hall, Leeds. The older painter executed the backgrounds while his son painted the figures. Sadly, John Atkinson Grimshaw died leaving his family in debt, so Louis spent much of his early career attempting to support himself and his mother with his work. The instability of income implicit in the artist’s profession may have led him to give up painting in 1905 to become a cartographer for the Manchester Guardian. Consequently, Louis Grimshaw’s works are comparatively rare.
The influence of his father’s work can be seen both in his favouring of moonlit motifs and their attention to detail. Louis’ paintings are mostly of London, often commissioned directly by the art dealer, Jackson. His most famous commission was a series of views of London during the preparations for the Coronation of Edward VII.
Works by Louis Grimshaw are in the public collections of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; The Hepworth Wakefield and Leighton House Museum, Kensington.
