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Going to the Match (1953)

Going to the Match (1953)

Original Medium: Oil on canvas

Going to the Match, painted in 1953, is probably LS Lowry’s best-known and most popular picture. It has become an enduring representation of what match day means to fans. Typically, Lowry’s focus is not on the players or the game but on the crowds streaming towards the ground. It depicts Burnden Park, the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club at the time, which was within walking distance of Lowry’s home. Bolton reached the FA Cup final that year but lost to Blackpool 3-4. Also in 1953, the Football Association celebrated its 90th anniversary with a competition - Football and the Fine Arts. Going to the Match beat 1,700 entries to win first prize in the painting category.
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LOWRY 360

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This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of LS Lowry’s iconic work, Going to the Match, in the UK’s first free permanent immersive experience.  

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About ls lowry

LS Lowry (1887–1976) is one of Britain’s most iconic artists, best known for his evocative industrial landscapes and distinctive figures that populate scenes such as Going to the Match. A master observer of working-class life in northern England, Lowry also explored quieter moments through haunting seascapes and intimate portraits.

His signature use of a limited colour palette and stylised figures created a visual language that remains instantly recognisable. Many of his finest works, including Coming from the Mill and Yachts, are preserved in the acclaimed Lowry Collection in our Salford galleries.

Today, his legacy lives on through popular art prints, limited editions, and exhibitions that celebrate the enduring appeal of LS Lowry and his timeless vision of Britain.

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