The collection of the Krasnodar State Historical and Archaeological Museum houses a bronze bust of Taras Shevchenko, the famous Ukrainian poet, and artist. It was made in 1862 by the Russian sculptor Fyodor Kamensky. The Kuban appointed ataman, Major-General Yakov Kukharenko, who was closely acquainted with Shevchenko, visited the capital at that time. He was the one who took the bust of his friend to Ekaterinodar (modern Krasnodar).
The sculpture was kept in the Kukharenko family for a long time. It entered the museum collection in 1965: the museum staff bought the bust from a resident of Krasnodar, whose name is now unknown.
Taras Shevchenko was born in 1814 in the family of a serf peasant. His parents lived in the estate of Vasily Engelgardt, the nephew of Grigory Potemkin-Tavrichesky. Shevchenko learned to read and write from a local deacon and tried to draw since his childhood. At the age of 15, he was sent by Vasily Engelhardt to study with the portrait painter Jan Rustem. In 1836, Taras Shevchenko met the Ukrainian painter Ivan Soshenko, who bought the serf artist from the owner with the help of Karl Bryullov, Alexey Venetsianov, and Vasily Zhukovsky. Four years later, Shevchenko published his famous collection of poems called ‘Kobzar.’
In 1840, Taras Shevchenko befriended Yakov Kukharenko in St. Petersburg. Kukharenko, whose military profession was usual for his family, was also fond of literature: while off-duty, Kukharenko wrote fairy tales, ethnographic essays and even a libretto for the operetta ‘Chernomortsy.’
The sculptor Fyodor Kamensky, who made the bust of Taras Shevchenko, studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts with famous masters: Pyotr Klodt, Fyodor Bruni, Nikolai Pimenov. After studying, he went to Italy at the expense of the Academy, where he improved his skills and learnt from foreign masters. Kamensky spent six years abroad, and created a monument to the composer Mikhail Glinka, as well as sentimental sculptures ‘First Steps’ and ‘Widow and Son.’ In 1869, the artist returned to Russia, but in 1871 he moved to the United States. One of his most famous works in Amreica was the project ‘Roman Fountains’ in New York.
The sculpture was kept in the Kukharenko family for a long time. It entered the museum collection in 1965: the museum staff bought the bust from a resident of Krasnodar, whose name is now unknown.
Taras Shevchenko was born in 1814 in the family of a serf peasant. His parents lived in the estate of Vasily Engelgardt, the nephew of Grigory Potemkin-Tavrichesky. Shevchenko learned to read and write from a local deacon and tried to draw since his childhood. At the age of 15, he was sent by Vasily Engelhardt to study with the portrait painter Jan Rustem. In 1836, Taras Shevchenko met the Ukrainian painter Ivan Soshenko, who bought the serf artist from the owner with the help of Karl Bryullov, Alexey Venetsianov, and Vasily Zhukovsky. Four years later, Shevchenko published his famous collection of poems called ‘Kobzar.’
In 1840, Taras Shevchenko befriended Yakov Kukharenko in St. Petersburg. Kukharenko, whose military profession was usual for his family, was also fond of literature: while off-duty, Kukharenko wrote fairy tales, ethnographic essays and even a libretto for the operetta ‘Chernomortsy.’
The sculptor Fyodor Kamensky, who made the bust of Taras Shevchenko, studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts with famous masters: Pyotr Klodt, Fyodor Bruni, Nikolai Pimenov. After studying, he went to Italy at the expense of the Academy, where he improved his skills and learnt from foreign masters. Kamensky spent six years abroad, and created a monument to the composer Mikhail Glinka, as well as sentimental sculptures ‘First Steps’ and ‘Widow and Son.’ In 1869, the artist returned to Russia, but in 1871 he moved to the United States. One of his most famous works in Amreica was the project ‘Roman Fountains’ in New York.
