SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL FLINT, R.A., P.R.W.S. | STUDIES OF CECILIA

Frost & Reed, London;

R.E. Arthur, Esq., 1961;

Private collection, Scotland

London, Royal Academy, 1957, no.1113

This drawing is sold with a letter which reads:

Aug 5 1961

Dear Mr Arthur,

Yes, "Studies of Cecilia" was exhibited at the Royal Academy 1957 exhibition. It is one of my favourite drawings & it gives me great pleasure to know it is in such appreciative hands.

Yours sincerely,

W. Russell Flint

Cecilia Green (1931-2003) was Flint's favourite favourite model and appears in many of the artist's greatest pictures from 1953 when they were first introduced. The recurrence of a childhood ailment halted her career as a professional dancer and she decided to become a professional artist's model. Despite his obvious attraction to her, the relationship between Cecilia and Flint was purely professional and she regarded him as a kindly uncle. She continued to model for Flint until the mid-1960s when she married the art consultant John Simmons and became a model for various advertising campaigns. Her departure from Flint's life left him distraught and he did not mention her once in his autobiography despite the important role she played in his art. Cecilia never spoke of Flint with anything other than a deep regard and affection for a man who treated her gently and paternally.