The Arab Hall, Mongolian Artwork, Journal and Member Profiles
The Arab Hall – Frederick Leighton: Traveller and Collector
Yesterday evening, we had the pleasure of celebrating the launch of Dr Melanie Gibson’s brand‑new publication, The Arab Hall – Frederick Leighton: Traveller and Collector, which has just been released this month. Dr Gibson gave a fascinating talk, guiding us through Frederick Leighton’s extraordinary life as a traveller and collector, and exploring his deep appreciation for Islamic art – an interest that ultimately inspired the creation of the beautifully decorated Arab Hall in his studio home.
A huge thank‑you to everyone who joined us, whether in person or online. Melanie’s book is packed with over 200 images, and if you’d like to get your own copy, we still have some available at a special price of £30 (RRP £40). To order, contact our Director, Alison Ohta, at ao@royalasiaticsociety.org. You’re welcome to collect your copy from the Society, or we can post it to you for an additional charge to cover packing and postage.
Mongolian Artwork
We’re delighted to share that one of our paintings, ‘Mongolian Hunting Party and Encampment’ (RAS 042.001), has been featured in a new publication, Treasures of Mongolian Cultural and Historical Heritage in the United Kingdom, recently released by the Chinggis Khaan National Museum in Mongolia. Edited and compiled by researcher Sue Byrne, this volume is the first of its kind to bring together selected highlights from UK libraries, archives and museums that relate to Mongolia’s rich history and culture. It contains over 15 articles covering manuscripts, photographs, paintings, coins and other artefacts held in various UK institutions.
In their article on our painting, co‑authors Isabelle Charleux and Alice Crowther take a close look at the work, analysing its subjects in impressive detail. They discuss the painting’s artistic qualities and point out several intriguing elements, such as the tents and the cattle trough, that hint it may have been painted by a Chinese artist, possibly commissioned by a Mongol or Manchu noble.
I’ve also taken the chance to view the painting in closer detail. What I find particularly striking about it is its format and composition. Its horizontal layout encourages the viewer’s eye to travel gradually across the scene, taking in the animals, tents, horsemen, and the many activities unfolding, from riding and hunting to sharing meals in tents. It definitely creates a wonderfully immersive viewing experience.
This painting is also special for the Society because it was one of the earliest works to enter its collections, donated in February 1829 by Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848), the Royal Navy officer and novelist. Although the painting is currently too fragile to be displayed at the Society, here is an image to give a sense of its character:
The publication itself is available only in physical form and is primarily distributed in Mongolia. However, for anyone interested in exploring more about our painting, along with many other Mongolian treasures in the UK, a copy will soon be available to consult in our Library.
New Issue of JRAS
We’d also like to share that the latest issue of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (vol. 36, no. 1, January 2026) is now available to read online via Cambridge Core here. As always, the issue brings together an exciting mix of subjects, from Rajput identity in Mughal India and nationalism in the Middle East to female education in colonial Singapore.
Six of the eight articles are freely available through Open Access, while Fellows of the Society enjoy complimentary access to the full issue. To access, simply visit our Journal page, click Read the Journal, and log in with your RAS account. For Fellows who prefer a printed copy, discounted subscriptions are available – contact us at info@royalasiaticsociety.org for details. I hope you find plenty to enjoy in this new issue!
New Member Profile
Finally, a reminder that we’ve added a new profile to our Member Profiles page: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/member-profile. This page gives us a chance to introduce some of our Fellows through a short Q&A about their motivations for joining the Society and their interests in Asia.
Our latest addition is Dr Simon Pulleyn, Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Greek and Latin at UCL. Do take a moment to read Dr Pulleyn’s profile – and, if you haven’t already, explore the other members featured on the page. It’s a handy way to get to know the diverse community that makes up the Society.