Two sitters

Taras Shevchenko. Two sitters. [1840, not later than 24 December. St. Petersburg].
Stained paper, charcoal and chalk. 76 × 57 cm.
Taras Shevchenko National Museum, № g – 223.

Left at the bottom author's signature in Italian pencil: Shevchenko, below a blue pencil inscription: Shevchenko, right next with red pencil exam Professor K.P. Briullov marked: 5 (number – assessment exam work exhibited from the first for the best work).

Before restoration of 1955 in the lower right corner has been marked in pencil: 32196 (number in the State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg)) at the bottom left – Printed Label number: 45 and under it in ink: 65; above – the label with typed text: I.A.H. Description of drawing and studio classes number and pencil: 65. The back board, to which sketch was glued, had inscriptions: above left in pencil – K.P.1930, at the bottom left blue paint – Y.SH.27, top right in red pencil rotated: 27; label below: Academy of Arts number 34 drawings description.

In two-figured posture that students drawed for a third year examinations, sitters put in a fighters pose. Sitter that relied on the knee, drawn from Ephraim, as shown from the back – probably from Martian [Diary of artist A.N. Mokrytsky / Compiled by N.L. Pryjmak. – M., 1975. – Tab. 29].

Dated according to the discovered by V.O.Sudak similar exam drawing by G.K. Mikhailov, executed December 24, 1840, estimated of the first number, signed by K. P. Briullov and certified by seal of the Academy of Arts [Sudak V.A. In the classrooms of the Academy of Arts // The study of T.H. Shevchenko. – K., 1968. – p. 15 – 16; Taras Shevchenko: The documents and materials for the biography. 1814 – 1861. – K., 1982. – p. 29. – № 64].

Preserved leaf with preparatory studies to examination work.

After the decision of the Academy of Arts of 2 May 1887, as stated in the inventory book of the Academy museum, the picture was bought "to the originals and exhibited at the Drawing class" [Ginzburg I.V. Shevchenko and Briullov's school // Proceedings of ninth Shevchenko scientific conference. – K., 1961. – p. 170 – 171].

For the first time mentioned with name "Class picture" in 1903 [The list of exhibition Blanc et noir by Emperor's Academy of Arts. – SPb., 1903. – p. 24. – № 357]

Reproduced for the first time in 1911 with the title "Two young men-sitters" [Images Shevchenko / by artistic care prof. V.V. Mate. – SPb., 1911. – Vol. 1. – Tab. 3].

Storage sites: the Museum of the Academy of Arts; since 1930 – the State Russian Museum (St. Petersburg); from 1948 – State Museum of T.H. Shevchenko (Kyiv).

Exhibitions:

1903. St. Petersburg. Academy of Art. Exhibition of Blanc et noir [The list of exhibition Blanc et noir by Emperor's Academy of Arts. – p. 24. – № 357];

1911. St. Petersburg. Shevchenko's exhibition at the Art Academy [Speech. – 1911. – 23 February; The Council. – 1911. – March 3].

I.M. Verykivska

After publication: T.H. Shevchenko Complete Works in 12 volumes. – K.: Naukova Dumka, 2003, v. 7, p. 64 – 65 (image), p. 376 – 377 (notes).