Gouri Ivanov-Rinov papers, 1902-1974

Collection Information

Size: 2 Linear feet

Summary: Biographical material, reminiscences, art works, scrapbooks about Alexandre Iacovleff and Ivanov-Rinov's career, and a photograph album document his Russian childhood, painting, and set design.

Biographical material consists of a biographical sketch and an obituary (1966). In a 1935 manuscript, Ivanov-Rinov reminisces about his boyhood in Russia. Art works consist of 16 sketchbooks (1941-1968), over 300 sketches including set designs, and 2 etching plates. Some sketches are in watercolor, gouache and oil. A scrapbook about Alexandre Iacovleff contains photographs of Iacovleff and his work, reproductions of his work, an exhibition catalog, and 5 drawings by Bill Barss. A photograph album contains photographs of Ivanov-Rinov, his family, friends, and views from his travels within the United States (ca. 1920s).

Four scrapbooks (1902-1974) contain a passport (1921), certificates (1922-1932, 1938), 10 drawings by Ivanov-Rinov including a portrait of Joshua Logan (1931) and 4 set designs for the St. Louis Community Playhouse, 6 drawings by Bill James including a watercolor portrait of Ivanov-Rinov (1941), 5 letters from Alexander James (1937-1940), clippings (1932-1968), exhibition catalogs (1941-1957), and photographs of Ivanov-Rinov, his family in Russia, China, and the United States, friends, his studio, art works, and exhibitions. One group photograph shows the University Players including Henry Fonda and Joshua Logan (1931).

Biographical/Historical Note

Painter, art instructor, and set decorator. Born in Russian Siberia to a Siberian Cossack family. His father was the military governor of Turkestan. During the Russian civil war, the family fled to Tientsin, China. Immigrating to the United States in 1922, Ivanov-Rinov became interested in art and studied with Alexander Iacovleff at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston during the 1930s. He designed stage sets for the University Players in the early 1930s and for the St. Louis Community Playhouse from the late 1930s until the early 1940s. Settling in Dublin, New Hampshire, with his second wife, Muriel, he befriended painter Alexander James and conducted art classes in Dublin and Keene, New Hampshire.

Provenance

Material has been annotated by Ivanov-Rinov's widow Muriel Ivanov-Rinov, who donated the collection.

Language Note

The passport and annotations in the photograph album are in Russian.