Socialite and wealthy patron of the arts.
Born in Chelsea as Maud Julia Augusta Nelke, daughter of Paul Nelke, a German Jew who was the senior partner in Nelke, Phillips & Bendix. Her grandfather had been Master of the Mint in Frankfurt and Berlin. In 1917 she married Gilbert Byng Alwyne Russell (1875 - 1942, military officer and banker). Her father assisted her husband to set up the merchant banking firm, Cull and Company.
Maud and Gilbert had homes in Prince's Gate, Heveningham Hall (Suffolk) and Stanway House (Gloucestershire). In 1934 they purchased the substantial country house Mottisfont Abbey in Hampshire and made it their home. Here they entertained artists and writers including Ben Nicholson, Rex Whistler and Ian Fleming.
Maud had a long affair with Boris Anrep who made mosaics for Mottisfont, one angel having Maud's face (pictured).
The Russells had 2 sons. After Gilbert's death Maud arranged for the Mottisfont estate to be preserved with the National Trust.
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