Russell Flint in Piccadilly Circus by Cecilia Green

“Russell Flint In Piccadilly Circus” By Cecilia Green (1931 to 2003) Signed And Numbered 808 of 850 This painting was by Cecilia Green, the favourite model of Sir William Russell Flint, appearing in many of his paintings in roles which varied from Spanish gypsy to cloistered nun. Her nude poses, more aesthetic than erotic, were, and remain, famous. Their association lasted for some 15 years, but she was much more than his model and his inspiration. Flint's wife was confined to a nursing home with arthritis, and Cecilia took over many additional duties, such as dealing with agents, acting as his hostess, and even manicuring his fingernails. Cecilia Green, the only child of garment workers of Russian-Jewish extraction, was born at Hackney, in the East End of London, on 29th August 1931. She was herself a fine painter and produced lively and witty watercolours which she would describe as her "caprices". Originally Cecilia Green trained for the ballet and danced successfully for the London Festival Ballet but after a recurrence of childhood tuberculosis, she was unable to return to her career. At 21, having decided to become an artist's model, she turned up on Flint's doorstep, initiating their long association. Although Russell Flint was very fond of her their relationship was always most proper. When painting he always observed great formality, forever correctly attired in a waistcoat, collar and tie, and as often as not he would not even remove his jacket whilst at work. For her own part Cecilia looked upon him as a kindly uncle. Despite the mutual warmth of their relationship, she found him to be a hard taskmaster insisting on difficult and tiring poses without any obvious consideration for her discomfort, although her ballet training gave her an advantage above his other models in enabling her to maintain awkward positions. She died of cancer on November 2, 2003, aged 72