Section IV: 1922-1935
The Howard Coster Portraits, 1931

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National Portrait Gallery BC12554/1A

In a letter to Charlotte Shaw, Lawrence described how these portraits were taken:

'On Friday I was on the embankment by the Temple . . . 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 want to take". So I went along, for the joke of it, and he put me on 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 little stammering man, I thought. Works for Vogue! Had chased me for 5 minutes, afraid to speak.'

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