In 2014, Ukraine celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of Shevchenko. The great poet and artist has long become one of the national heroes of this country. Taras Shevchenko, whose biography is set forth in this article, fought against the oppression of autocracy and serfdom. It was not an easy path on which many had to suffer. Rejection and exile are the common fate of artists who did not want to put up with the government. Taras Shevchenko fully shared it. The biography of this outstanding Ukrainian poet and artist testifies to this. You will learn a lot of interesting things about him by reading this article. And you will surely agree that the poet Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko was a great man. A biography with a photo gives some idea about him.
Origin and childhood T. G. Shevchenko
The future poet and artist was born on February 25, 1814 in the village. Morintsy of the Kiev province (today it is Cherkasy region). His father was a serf, owned by the landowner P.V. Engelhardt. Parents of Taras after 2 years moved to the village. Kirillovka. Here the future poet and artist spent his childhood. In 1823, the mother of Taras died, then the father married for the second time. His chosen one was a widow who already had three children. Shevchenko's father died in 1825, when the boy was only 12 years old. So Taras Shevchenko became an orphan. His biography was marked at this time by many difficulties. The child was forced to live the hard life of a homeless child. Fortunately, the world is not without good people. Taras lived first with a teacher-clerk, then with neighboring painters. Taras Shevchenko learned to read and write in the school of the deacon, and got acquainted with the basics of drawing from painters.
Life at the landowner Engelhardt
In 1828, he became a servant of the landowner Engelhardt in s. Vilshan. Taras was first a cook, and then a Cossack. In 1829, he served already in Vilna, in the landowner's house, and then in St. Petersburg, after Engelhardt moved to the capital (this happened in early 1831). The landowner, having discovered the ability of Taras to draw, decided to send him for training, and then make the boy a home painter. So in 1832 he came to V. Shiryaev, workshop master, Taras Shevchenko. His biography continues with a new stage in his life. One of Shevchenko’s paintings is presented below. The work is called "Katerina". The painting was painted in 1842.
Acquaintance with famous artists
Taras Shevchenko visited the Hermitage on holidays. In the Summer Garden, he painted statues. Here Taras met in 1836 with I. M. Soshenko, a Ukrainian artist. He introduced the young man V. Grigorovich, the secretary of the Academy of Arts, as well as the painters K. Bryullov and Venetsianov, the poet V. Zhukovsky. Of great importance in the fate of Taras were these acquaintances.
Gaining freedom
Several attempts were made to free Shevchenko from serfdom. We will briefly talk about some of them. At first, Bryullov went to Engelhardt for negotiations, but to no avail. The landowner certainly wanted a ransom. Then Venetsianov went to him in order to agree on a price. Taras Shevchenko was comforted and pleased by the care of such prominent figures of Russian art. However, at times he fell into despondency, sometimes even in despair. The young man cursed his share, and the stubbornness of the landowner discouraged him.
In an autobiography, Shevchenko wrote that Zhukovsky, after conspiring with Engelhardt, asked him to write a portrait from him of Bryullov in order to play this portrait in a private gallery. Bryullov agreed and soon the portrait was ready. With the help of Vielgorsky, Zhukovsky arranged a lottery, and thus Shevchenko received freedom. As a sign of deep appreciation and special respect for Vasily Andreevich, he dedicated one of his largest poetic works ("Katerina") to this poet.
So, on April 22, 1838, Shevchenko’s freedom was bought for 2500 rubles. In the same year he entered the Academy of Arts. Here Shevchenko became a student of K.P. Bryullov.
The heyday of Shevchenko’s poetic talent
The best years in the life of Taras can be considered 1840-1847 (in the photo above - a self-portrait of Shevchenko, made by him in 1840). At this time, his poetic talent blossomed. The biography of Taras Shevchenko is marked by the creation of many works. In St. Petersburg in 1840, the first collection of poems by this poet ("Kobzar") appeared. He ushered in a new era in the history of literature of the Ukrainian people. "Gaydamaki" is Shevchenko's largest work; it appeared in 1842. Other significant works of this period include the 1838 poem "Katerina", 1842 "Blind", 1844 "mediocre", 1845 "The Little Nurse", as well as the 1843 drama "Nazar Stodol". Political poems that appeared at this time - "Dream" (in 1844) and "Caucasus" (in 1845). They denounce autocracy, imbued with a revolutionary spirit. The call of the people to overthrow the autocracy is openly expressed in Shevchenko’s political testament - the poem "How I Die ..." (1845).
Trips around Ukraine and their reflection in creativity
Taras Grigorievich in May 1843 left for Ukraine. Here he stayed for about a year. In February 1844, the biography of Taras Shevchenko was marked by his return to St. Petersburg. In the spring of 1845 he graduated from the Academy of Arts, becoming a "non-class (that is, free) artist." Again Shevchenko went to Ukraine. He wanted to settle in Kiev. Taras Grigorievich worked at this time in the Kiev archaeological commission as an artist. He traveled a lot throughout Ukraine. The revolutionary aspirations of the writer and poet strengthened the impression of trips to the Chernihiv, Poltava, Kiev provinces. Everywhere Taras Grigorievich observed the plight of the peasants. He created anti-serfdom poems during trips, which were included in the album "Three Years". Taras Shevchenko read these works to friends and acquaintances, gave them to rewrite. At that time, critics of St. Petersburg and even Belinsky condemned and did not understand Little Russian literature, and especially Shevchenko. In his poetry they saw narrow provincialism. However, his homeland immediately appreciated it. This is evidenced by the warm receptions of Shevchenko during the journey made by him in 1845-47.
Cyril and Methodius Society, arrest and exile
Taras Grigorievich in 1846 entered the secret Cyril and Methodius Society. It was founded by students and teachers of Kiev University at the end of 1845. This society consisted of young people who were interested in the development of various Slavic peoples, including the Ukrainian one. According to a denouncer provocateur in April 1847, it was discovered by the police. 10 people, participants in it, were arrested. They were accused of organizing a political society. All were punished. Shevchenko got especially for his illegal poems. He was exiled to the Orenburg region under strict supervision. In addition, Nicholas I personally added on his own that Shevchenko should be prohibited from writing and drawing. The first serious problems of Taras Grigorievich related to alcoholism date back to this time. Shevchenko's binges were already well known then. During the investigation into the case of a secret society, V. Belozersky, one of its members, acquitted Shevchenko, saying that he wrote his poems while intoxicated and had no bold intentions at all. But these testimonies did not save the poet. Biography of Taras Grigorovich Shevchenko continues already in exile.
Life in the Orsk fortress, participation in the expedition
Taras Grigorievich fell into the Orsk fortress, which was a desert outback. After some time, Taras Shevchenko wrote a letter to Zhukovsky asking for a motion in only one - the right to draw. Count Tolstoy and Gudovich tried for Taras in this sense, but they could not help Shevchenko. Taras Grigoryevich turned to Dubbelt, the head of the 3rd division, but nothing helped. Prior to his release, the prohibition of drawing was not lifted. However, some comfort to the artist was given by his participation in the expedition of 1848-49. on the study of the Aral Sea. Thanks to the humane attitude of V. A. Obruchev and Lieutenant Butakov, he was allowed to sketch local folk types and views of the Aral coast. In total, Shevchenko created 350 watercolor portraits and landscapes. He captured the scenes of the soldier's life, the life of the Kazakh people. However, St. Petersburg soon became aware of this condescension. Butakov and Obruchev were reprimanded by denunciation, and Taras Shevchenko was exiled in 1850 to a deserted slum on Fr. Mangyshlak, in the Novopetrovsk fortification. And here it was strictly forbidden to draw.
Years spent on about. Mangyshlak
The first 3 years of stay here were very difficult for Taras. Then it became easier, mainly due to the kindness of the local commandant Uskov and his wife, who fell in love with Taras Shevchenko for their affection for their children and the gentle nature. Shevchenko lived in the barracks, although one officer suggested that Taras Grigoryevich settle in his apartment. However, even in the most difficult years, the poet Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko did not lose heart, whose biography is marked by many difficult trials that fell to his lot. He tried to replace the forbidden drawing with modeling, and also began to engage in photography, which was, by the way, a very expensive task at that time.
The liberation of Shevchenko
In 1857, Taras G. Shevchenko was finally released. The biography of the poet and artist would probably have developed differently if it were not for the numerous motions for him by F.P. Tolstoy and his wife A.I. Tolstoy. Shevchenko stayed in the Novopetrovsk fortification from October 17, 1850 to August 2, 1857. He was released after the death of Nicholas I.
Life in St. Petersburg, the growth of revolutionary moods in creativity
The return of Taras from exile was difficult and long. He was detained in Nizhny Novgorod, forbidden to enter both capitals. Friends, however, obtained permission for Shevchenko to settle in Petersburg. He arrived here in the spring of 1858. Here the poet and artist became close friends with the authors of Sovremennik, as well as with N.A. Dobrolyubov, N.G. Chernyshevsky, M.L. Mikhailov, N.A. Nekrasov, A.N. Ostrovsky and others. Even more angry and harsh notes sounded in his satire. The 3rd branch again established strict supervision of the poet. Shevchenko was in exile for ten years, from June 1847 to August 1857. However, this did not break the will of the poet and did not change his revolutionary beliefs. The poems and poems of the "slave muse" (that is how Shevchenko called his works that were created in exile and hid during searches) are characterized by the growth of revolutionary sentiments. The poet’s conviction to tyrants, as well as a call for reprisal against them, are heard in the 1848 cycle “Kings”. During the exile, Shevchenko also created realistic novels written in Russian. This is the "Princess" of 1853, the "Musician" of 1854-1855, the works of 1855 "Gemini", "Captain", "Unhappy" and the 1856 "Artist". All of them contain a lot of details from the author’s biography, imbued with anti-serfdom moods.
However, the difficult years spent in exile, as well as ingrained alcoholism, undermined Shevchenko’s health and weakened his talent. His attempts to start a family ended unsuccessfully (actress Riunova, peasant women Lukerya and Harita). Until the end of his days, Taras Shevchenko remained lonely. A brief biography should not cover personal life in detail, however, we will talk about the last attempt to marry Shevchenko separately below.
Homecoming, new arrest and recent years in St. Petersburg
Shevchenko did not stay in Petersburg for long, from March 1858 until July 1859. Then he again went to his homeland. Taras Grigorievich had an idea to acquire a manor over the Dnieper. He chose a beautiful place on Chernechey Gora. However, Shevchenko was not destined to settle here. Once he read his poems in an unfamiliar company, and the local mayor immediately notified the governor about this, saying that Shevchenko was campaigning against the authorities. Taras Grigorievich was arrested again, obliged to leave his homeland and return to Petersburg under the supervision of the 3rd division. A short biography of Taras Shevchenko allows you to omit the details of life in St. Petersburg, since this time was not very fruitful for him. Shevchenko, distracted by many artistic and literary acquaintances, drew and wrote little in recent years. He devoted almost all his free time to evening parties and dinners to engraving, his new hobby. Then Shevchenko even became an academician on copper engraving. He received this title in 1860.
Last attempt to get married
A brief biography of Taras Shevchenko for children usually omits this point, however, the last attempt by Shevchenko to marry dates back to 1860. By the summer of this year, he was left in St. Petersburg alone - all Shevchenko’s friends had left. The poet especially felt loneliness. He was attracted by Lukerya Polusmakova, a serf girl. Shevchenko began to see her often. Lukerya was literate and more developed than Harita Dovgopolenkova, another peasant woman, whom the poet had once carried away. Perhaps she was more cunning. The girl was able to understand that Taras Grigorievich is an enviable groom. Without hesitation, she accepted his offer. Lukerya and Taras were a bride and groom for quite some time, but after a while there was a break. Its reasons remained unclear, as did the moral character of L. Polusmakova.
Illness and death
The poet Taras Shevchenko, whose biography is already drawing to a close, met the beginning of 1861 with seriously ill patients (heart, liver, dropsy, rheumatism). However, he hoped until the very end for a cure. In letters to Bartholomew, his second cousin, he wrote that he would come to Ukraine in the spring and would certainly recover in his homeland. However, on February 26, 1861, on his birthday, Shevchenko died in Petersburg. The grave and museum of T. G. Shevchenko in Kanev (Ukraine) today are one of the most revered places for the Little Russian people.
But not only in Ukraine is this great man honored. Although the biography of Taras Shevchenko in Russian is not included in the school curriculum on literature in Russia, his personality, as well as his work, is very popular in our country. His name is familiar to many of us. One of the greatest inhabitants of Ukraine is considered Taras Shevchenko. The biography in Russian of this poet must have interested many of you.