A pencil drawing of the River Wear in Sunderland by artist LS Lowry is to fetch up to £18,000 at auction next week.
The picture, titled The Wear, Sunderland, was produced by Lowry in 1961, when he was in his mid-70s.
Although he is best-known for pictures of his native Manchester, featuring his trademark matchstick men and dogs, Lowry was also entranced with We
arside.
In the summer of 1966, Lowry told a magazine: "I like Sunderland because of the shipping and shipbuilding and the countryside at the back."
On another occasion he remarked : "Some people like to go to the theatre, some like to watch television. I just like watching ships."
It is not clear yet whether Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens will bid for the drawing, which measures 10ins by 13ins, at the sale at Christie's in London on Thursday.
It already owns seven works by Lowry, including four oil paintings: River Wear at Sunderland; Dockside, Sunderland; The Sea at Sunderland; and Self Portrait I.
As well as the oils, Sunderland owns three Lowry drawings: Interior Discord, Dewars Lane, Berwick, and The Half Moon Inn.
The world record for a Lowry is £3,772,000, paid at Christie's on June 8, 2007, for his 1946 oil painting, Good Friday, Daisy Nook.
