Head of T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935) (1926)

The sculptor Eric Kennington modelled this portrait bust of Lawrence of Arabia - a colonel in the British army, T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935) from life and drawings in December 1926, at the same time Lawrence's autobiographical account of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, the Seven Pillars of Wisdom : A Triumph, was first published which was also illustrated by Kennington alongside Augustus John, Paul Nash, Blair Hughes-Stanton and his wife Gertrude Hermes. This Tate version is one of five bronze casts (another of which is at the sitter's former home Clouds Hill, Dorset) acquired with aid from the Contemporary Art Society and The Studio magazine in 1943, some time after the Lawrence's death. Lawrence had described it as "Magnificent; there is no other word for it. It represents not me but my top moments, those few seconds when I succeed in thinking myself right out of things" and it was chosen by his mother and brother for the Crypt of St Paul's.

All rights reserved. Any further use will need to be cleared with the rights holder. Permission granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only. Commercial copying, hiring, lending is prohibited. The collection that owns this artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

For further information, please consult our section of our copyright policy.