Anne Olivier Bell, art scholar, Bloomsbury matriarch, widow of Virginia Woolf’s nephew Quentin, and editor of her diaries, died yesterday at the age of 102.
Bell also helped Quentin pen his 1972 biography of his aunt and the two were instrumental in saving Charleston Farmhouse, preserving it for future generations of Bloomsbury scholars and fans.
In addition, she was known for playing an instrumental role in saving European art from the Nazis during World II, serving in the Monuments Men effort.
As a result of her marriage to Quentin, Olivier moved into the heartland of the Bloomsbury milieu and, having inherited its values, became one of the most vigorous (and vigilant) guardians and promoters of the Bloomsbury revival. – “Anne Olivier Bell obituary,” The Guardian, July 19, 2018.
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I am sorry to hear this. One of my most treasured moments involves sitting in her home, listening to her tell stories, and drinking Noilly Prat. Olivier was a fascinating woman with many stories to tell. Brilliant mind!