Large original photograph of T.E. Lawrence

Toned studio portrait of Lieutenant Colonel T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). This is one of five portraits made by Howard Coster, the self proclaimed "Photographer of Men" (studio at the strand), 1926-1940. In his biography of Colonel Lawrence, Jeremy Wilson provides an account of the session from which the portraits came: "On Friday I was on the embankment near the Temple.. [when] a little bare-headed man rushed up and said "Colonel Lawrence?" "Used to be, I replied. "I want to photograph you". But who are you, I asked". "My name is Howard Coster". A professional I asked. "Yes" but this for myself. I don't want to sell it or show it. You and Gandhi are the two people I most want to take". So I went along, for the joke of it, and he put me in a little chair, made me take my tunic off, and photographed me about a dozen times. A little shop in Essex Street. Rather a nice stammering man, I thought. Works for Vogue! Had chased me for five minutes afraid to speak". Two weeks later, Coster sent Lawrence one of the photographs from the sitting as a gift; Lawrence mentioned it to his mother, writing: " I think it is very good, as a photograph".