11)0 AN EXHIBITION OF PICTURES BY A RUSSIAN ARTIST 



hors concours, and argues a wonderful quickness of touch 

 and memory combined with rare personal qualities. 



Two exhibitions of his pictures were held in the Society's 

 library, the first on 12th December and the second on 8th 

 January. The former consisted of pictures produced for the 

 most part in Peking and comprised a large number of 

 portraits in sepia and sanguine, the latter representing his 

 work during a summer stay in and around Dolonor and 

 Lamamiao in Inner Mongolia. 



It is not possible within the scope of this short notice to 

 attempt any detailed description of Mr. Iacovleff 's work. 

 Photographs of two of his pictures are reproduced here — the 

 one representing a Lama wearing the curious head-dress used 

 by Mongolian Buddhist dignitaries, the other of a Chinese 

 actress, who wears in the original a brilliant scarlet robe. 

 Among the pictures in the first series exhibited were many 

 of actors and actresses in the old-fashioned costume which 

 now shows sign of being improved off the stage of New China, 

 and it is understood that Mr. Iacovleff made a special study 

 of the theatrical world in Peking. 



The Mongolian pictures which were exhibited on the 

 12th of January consisted of about seventy water-colour 

 sketches and fifty crayon drawings; and some idea of the 

 rapidity of Mr. Iacovleff 's work and his devotion to his art 

 may be gained when it is stated that this whole series was the 

 result of only forty days stay in Mongolia. Some of his 

 sketches were but lightning indications, though not one but 

 was instinct with life and feeling : others were careful studies 

 which must have taken considerable time to^ elaborate. 

 Living and working all day in the open air, in the wonderful 

 weather of the Mongolian summer, Mr. Iacovleff slept in one 

 of the round felt tents which were represented in so many of 

 his pictures. The daily occupations of the people round him 

 formed the subjects of most of his sketches but there were 

 also exhibited careful studies of the interiors of tents and 

 temples and detailed drawings of head-dresses, garments and 

 utensils. 



Mr. Iacovleff intends to publish reproductions of his 

 work in an album illustrative of his tour and work in the 

 Far East. 



