Catalogue description Kennington, Eric, 1888-1960, artist

Material relating to the design of two commemorative medals awarded by the RSAA, and an illustrated exhibition catalogue published to accompany a Kennington exhibition at the Strang Print Room, University College London, 3 October - 14 December, 2001.

Eric Henri Kennington (1888-1960) was an Official War Artist in both World Wars, and carved a number of war memorials in the 1920s. Amongst his public works is a recumbent effigy (carved 1936-9) of T E Lawrence (at St Martin's Church, Wareham, Dorset), and Kennington provided the majority of the pastel illustrations to Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926 and 1935). Lawrence wrote (Jonathan Cape edn, 1935, p. 19): "If anybody likes any of these illustrations, he owes thanks to Kennington, who apart from his creative work, took over the duty of art-editor and for five years oversaw each proof of every block."

Kennington was commissioned by the Royal Central Asian Society to design two commemorative medals, both of which continue to be awarded by the RSAA. For background information about the Society's Lawrence of Arabia Medal, and Sir Percy Sykes Memorial Medal, see Leach with Farrington, Strolling About on the Roof of the World (2003), Chapters XIV and XV.

See also, Jonathan Black, The Sculpture of Eric Kennington (2002), pp. 97-8, and Jonathan Black, "Celebrating service: the medals of Eric Kennington," The Medal, 43 (2003), pp. 30-47 (RSAA/SC/KEN/4).

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