Not just poet, but artist too: Shevchenko's 5 most famous paintings
5 most famous paintings of Taras Shevchenko (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
On March 9, the birthday of the great poet Taras Shevchenko is celebrated in Ukraine. But he is not only remembered in our history for writing the famous Kobzar. Taras Hryhorovych also created many brilliant paintings.
The artist felt a passion for painting quite early on. He created his first drawings with charcoal and chalk, decorating tables and walls. Researchers say that Shevchenko painted 1300 works, including portraits, drawings, etchings, sketches, etc., of which 835 have survived to this day.
Explore Shevchenko's 5 most famous paintings.
Sources used in the preparation of the material: Wikipedia and Dovidka.biz.
Kateryna
This painting is undoubtedly the most famous artwork by Taras Shevchenko. In it, he illustrated his eponymous poem. The artist created this drawing in the summer of 1842 in St. Petersburg. Shevchenko's autograph can be found in the lower right corner.
Today, this painting is preserved in the Taras Shevchenko National Museum. Researchers note many symbolic elements in this work, including the dog chasing after the Muscovite, driving him away, indicating that even during Shevchenko's time, strangers were not welcomed in Ukraine.
"Kateryna" - Taras Shevchenko's most famous painting (photo: Wikipedia)
Nude
Shevchenko created this painting in 1840. In literature, this drawing is known by incorrect titles such as "The Mistress of the House Herself," "The Mistress Herself," and "Odalisque." Currently, the painting is housed in the Taras Shevchenko National Museum.
There is also another version of this painting, which the artist created 20 years after the famous original. Shevchenko made a sketch on toned paper and a preparatory drawing for the etching. The etching was first mentioned under the title "Odalisque."
Shevchenko created the "Nude" in 1840 (photo: Wikipedia)
Dream of Grandmother and Granddaughter
Taras Hryhorovych created this painting as a copy of the watercolor by Karl Bryullov of the same name. He painted it in St. Petersburg. The size of the drawing is 21.9 × 27.6. He signed this work with his name, indicating that it is a copy of Bryullov's work.
Currently, the painting is housed in the Taras Shevchenko National Museum. In literature, there is information that the artist painted this picture between 1840 and 1843, but researchers refute this.
This picture is a copy of the watercolor of the same name by Karl Bryullov (photo: Wikipedia)
Maria
Taras Shevchenko created this drawing in St. Petersburg in 1840 based on Alexander Pushkin's poem "Poltava." The drawing is done in watercolor on paper. Its size is 24.7 × 20.1.
In the lower left corner, the artist left a pencil signature: T. Schevchenko and the date 1840. In literature, this painting is also known by the names "Motria Kochubey in Mazepa's Chambers" and "Maria's Dream."
Taras Shevchenko painted this picture in 1840 (photo: Wikipedia)
Gypsy Fortune Teller
Taras Shevchenko painted this picture in St. Petersburg in 1841. It is done in watercolor on paper, measuring 26.5 × 20.7. At the bottom right, the artist's signature and the date of the painting's creation are preserved.
In the same year, the painting was presented at an academic exhibition in St. Petersburg. The Academy of Arts awarded Shevchenko a silver medal of the second degree for "achievements in art, demonstrated by the presented works of historical and portrait painting."
For this painting, Shevchenko was awarded a silver medal of the 2nd degree (photo: Wikipedia)
