LONDON.- Having not been seen in public for almost 20 years, The Football Match, 1949, by Laurence Stephen Lowry, R.A. (1887-1976) will be offered at auction on 26 May 2011 in Christie’s sale of 20th Century British Art. An exceptionally rare depiction of one of Britain’s most popular sports – football – by one of the country’s most iconic British artists, this painting is a modern masterpiece. The property of a Private Collector, The Football Match has an estimate of £3.5million to £4.5million, setting a new benchmark for the artist’s work at auction. Philip Harley Director, Head of 20th Century British & Irish Art, Christies London and Rachel Hidderley, Christie’s International Specialist and Director, 20th Century British Art: “ ‘The Football Match’ by L.S. Lowry is the ultimate work for passionate connoisseurs of Lowry’s work and of football. Having not been seen on the open m