T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 205

To: Dr. G. M. Doughty. Colonial Office, 23. VI. 21. Dear Mr. Doughty, An artist friend of mine, a young man, Eric Kennington, who made a name for himself in the ... by his pictures, has been out beyond Jordan the last three months in Fein Atpulla's camp drawing Arabs. He had a great success, and has brought home about 30 good studies of heads: nearly all of Nejdis. Meanwhile he has been reading Arabia Deserta, and he asked me if you would let him make a drawing of you, while he was still in an Arabian frame of mind. I told him I would write, and that if his work passed Mrs. Doughty's standard it would probably be possible. Will you ask Mrs. Doughty if she will agree ? Kennington is a very nice fellow, and a fine draughtsman. He'd probably do it in pastel, rather more than life-size, which is his custom. Sometimes he does it in one sitting, sometimes two; but he would not like to tie himself beforehand, since he prefers to tear up his first effort if it falls short of his wishes. He's not a cubist, or impressionist: or any sort of -ist. A very straight-forward draughtsman who would accommodate himself as much as he could to what suits you. Yours sincerely, T. E. Lawrence.