Mir iskusstva
The Russian-Finnish exhibition of 1898 became the first action of the recently formed society ‘Mir iskusstva’, established by Benois and Diaghilev earlier that year. The group also included Konstantin Somov, Dmitry Filosofov, Léon Bakst, and Eugene Lansere. Soon with the help of Savva Mamontov (the director of the Russian Private Opera Company) and Princess Maria Tenisheva, the group founded the journal Mir iskusstva (World of Art). The magazine was intended to serve ‘the god Apollo’ and promote modern art. The first issue was released in February 1898. As recalled by Benois, as an art-director Diaghilev created the style and designed the publication, he also wrote critical essays and in 1904 published a monograph on Dmitry Levitzky. Nevertheless, Benois remembered him as the least interested in philosophy and literature member of Mir iIskusstva, who frequently exposed huge gaps in knowing the classics.