Art Collections Online
Six Bells, Abertillery, South Wales
LOWRY, Laurence Stephen (1887 - 1976)
Date: 1962
Media: oil on canvas
Size: 132.0 x 169.0 cm
Acquired: 2001; Loan; Andrew Brownsword Arts Foundation
Accession Number: NMW A(L) 1186
This view of Six Bells Colliery, Abertillery in the Ebbw Fach Valley is one of Lowry's largest works. Wales provided Lowry with subject matter at two points in his career: during the 1920s, when he spent some time in Rhyl on the North Wales coast, and in the early 1960s when his friend and patron, the Stockport businessman Monty Bloom encouraged him to paint the South Wales valleys. Bloom had been brought up in the Rhondda, and these visits reawakened Lowry's interest in the industrial scene. The unusual combination of the rugged landscape of the Valleys and the densely-packed towns inspired a group of paintings which, though small, are some of the most inspirational of the artist's later works. These include a similar panoramic view of Ebbw Vale, 1960, in the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, and a contemporary view of a hillside near Abertillery, now in the Tate collection. Situated twelve miles north of Newport, Six Bells Colliery was the scene of the worst post-war mining disaster in Wales when, on 28 June 1960, there was an explosion at the colliery and 45 people died. It first operated in 1898 and closed in 1988, the last pit in Abertillery.
Comments - (19)
Looking forward to visiting soon.
Anne-Claude
Just to let you know that the 3 paintings you mention are, in fact, on display, and will be in May.
The issue was with our website and it will be updated to reflect the correct information. I apologise for any inconvenience this caused.
Best wishes for your May visit,
Sara
I'm very sorry that you have not received a response to your initial enquiries - I will investigate and get back to you.
Sara
I downloaded a file called "art Learning resource - historic art collections", the Lowry painting is mentioned on pages 5 and 6 in the "insight gallery" section.
We want to work on industrialization and coal mining, that's why we've decided to work on three paintings. We've chosen "the steelworks, Cardiff at night" by Walden, "a Welsh collier" by Walters and Lowry.
I've got two questions (sorry to ask them here but I sent two e-mails and haven't received any answers so far):
- Can you tell me if the paintings by Walden and Walters will be in the galleries on May 22nd?
- Do you know a painting that could "replace" Six Bells, Abertillery? I'm looking for something "easy" (at first glance) for teenagers, more naive than the other two?
Thank you for your answers.
Anne-Claude
I'm afraid that the image is no longer on display. Apologies for the misleading information on the information pack. So that I can update the pack, would you please mind telling me which resource you downloaded?
Sara
The Museum doese not own Lowry's Six Bells and it is still in artist’s copyright so we do not have the authority to issue a print. You could contact our Image Licensing Officer who may be able to obtain permission from the copyright holder to supply a print.
Graham Davies, Online Curator, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
Thank you for your comment, unfortunately this artwork is not on public display at the moment. If you wish to make an appointment to view this work, please contact: art@museumwales.ac.uk, please note that appointments can only be made during normal working hours (Mon-Fri 9-5), therefore we will be unable to provide this service to you during your visit this coming Saturday.
Graham Davies, Online Curator