Sasha Ilyinskaya

Stember and his wife Nadia met while both were studying in Paris.  This sketch has only Stember's initials but the family is in possession of a photograph taken by artist of this charcoal on paper sketch.  One can see that the artist noted the street 'Rue Lesueur' in the bottom left as well as the lady's name on the top right corner.

Sasha Ilyinskaya, from St. Petersburg, was a dear friend of Nadia, the artists wife and lived in the same boarding house with Victor and Nadia while Sasha and Nadia studied voice in Paris.  In Nadi's diary are several mentions of Sasha and the concerts they gave, even appearing together on occasion.