FLINT WILLIAM RUSSELL: (1880-1969) Scottish Artist and Illustrator. A good, charming series of twenty-seven A.Ls.S., Willie, and William Flint (1), thirty-six pages (total), 4to and 8vo, Peel Cottage, London, 1952-1969, all to Vivian and Hermione Ellis. The letters cover nearly two decades of friendship between the Ellis' and Flint, the artist's convivial manner reflected in his correspondence, in part, 'It is nice to hear from you. I can imagine you working away at your autobiography in country quiet… My summer was spoilt by a fall… which put my right hand out of action for a time. It is all right now and I have been working full blast for the past six weeks to make up! My poor wife, alas, has been and is, very crippled and unwell. And bad turns prevented me going to the R.A. soiree' (8th October 1952), 'By the high-handed expedient of changing the date of an important Council Meeting a certain recipient (whose initials are W.R.F.) of the Ellis Family's delightful invitation for Tuesday, 30th March, now rejoices in being to accept' (23rd March 1954), 'Thank you for your dear good wishes. 80! Isn't is awful! (6th June 1960), 'You both are begged to visit Peel Cottage next Sunday morning to look at (if you will) my R.A. pictures 11.30 - 1.30. You Vivian, gave me great pleasure with your “Brighton Belles”, in, I think “Courier”. I have also greatly enjoyed “Uproarious Devon”…' (17th March 1963), 'After my May time spell in France - I had lovely weather - I've been enjoying my peaceful studio, not painting all the time but thoroughly enjoying myself writing and arranging a little book without any illustrations at all' (21st July 1964), 'I'm so pleased about you and Vivian joining my little P.V. lunch party. Your fellow guests will be:- Betty and Arthur Underwood, Cecilia and John Simmons, Kaye and Kenneth Gallop' (27th April 1965), 'A marvelous photograph! What a pair, Vivian and me! I am just off to South Africa for 17 days. Excitement explains the swishy hand writing' (5th April 1967), 'Back from South Africa and packing for France! Very many thanks for the Beardsly book' (4th May 1967), 'What a lovely visit for ME. I hope I didn't exhaust you. You, by some magic, made me chatter, me, the dumb object usually! I found Francis and Sarah in the studio, so those generations had more talk and merriment. Sarah used to be (I'm told) rather awed by her Grandfather but, certainly, she is not now!' (27th April 1968), 'Well I was trained as a lithographic printer but as that was art with a very small “A” it cannot very well be called another profession. I've been a quite consistent painter and draughtsman all my life. Not much in that for your book!' (29th August 1968), 'Anemia, with a cruel complication, has been my bother. “On the slow mend” now, I do believe' (19th February 1969). Accompanied by twenty-six original envelopes hand addressed by Flint. Together with Francis Russell Flint (1915-1977) British Artist. Son of William Russell Flint. A.L.S., Francis Russell Flint, two pages, 8vo, Jesmond Dene, Sussex, 2nd January 1970, to Vivian Ellis and Hermione Ellis. Flint thanks his correspondents for 'the kindest and most generous of messages' regarding the death of his father, further adding 'I have a hard task ahead, but I am determined to try to carry on his tradition in water colour, a task I hope will be easier, as I have inherited his paint box.' Some light age wear, generally VG, 28
Vivian Ellis (1903-1996) English Musical Composer, known for the song Spread a Little Happiness. The brother of Hermione Ellis.
Cecilia Green (1931-2003) English Dancer, favourite model of Sir William Russell Flint, appearing in many of his paintings in roles which varied from Spanish gypsy to cloistered nun. In 1958 she married John Simmons, the fine art consultant.