The painting was sold to a private collector 60 years ago Enlarge Image

The Footbridge will be seen in public for the first time before it goes up for auction at Christie's in London.

The painting shows an industrial scene with Lowry's trademark matchstick figures rushing through the snow.

It was sold to a private collector 60 years ago and has not changed hands since. Lowry, who died in 1976, was known for depicting northern England.

'Themes'

Lindsay Brooks from the Lowry Gallery in Salford said the artist sold many works to private collectors.

"Many paintings were sold to private individuals and often stayed in the family, so there may be a few unseen paintings out there," she said.

"There were certain motifs, such as street lights and bridges, which were recurrent themes in Lowry's work and he painted them again and again."