Gilbert Spencer

[1893-1979]

Portrait, figure and landscape painter

Spencer studied at the Slade School and served with the RAMC and East Surrey Regiment in WWI. During his war service he had seen Lawrence, in Arab dress, while at Rumani. Subsequently Lawrence bought one of his paintings at an exhibition in 1923, and then wrote to him, enclosing a cheque for £5 on account, and asking him to make a drawing of Junor for his book. Spencer recounts in his Memoirs of a Painter (1) 'The drawing was not a good one, and I did not send it, neither did I return the cheque, hoping for a further opportunity to try again; but unhappily Junor was killed in a flying accident.' This pencil drawing was Spencer's only contribution to the book.

1	Chatto & Windus, 1974, p 79

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