Watercolour over pencil, 34 by 29 cm

Provenance: the artist’s estate

Lawrence was a winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1923, following his time as a student at the Royal College of Art. Strong draughtsmanship was central to his work, as was a mastery of medium, his many works on paper including portraits in pastel, chalks, pencil, ink and watercolour. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and produced impressive murals for the Palace of Westminster and the Bank of England. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy in 1938 where he was a staunch and conservative defender of traditional art.