Kazakh Kate

Taras Shevchenko. Kazakh Kate. Paper, sepia (27.6 × 21.5 cm). [Novopetrovsk fort]. [1856 – VII 1857]. Taras Shevchenko National Museum, inv. g – 268.

In portrait used the same motifs of Kazakhs religious custom, as in two undiscovered sepia, on which Shevchenko wrote to Br. Zaleski in postscript 20.V 1857 to the letter of 8.V 1857 (see number 222 – 223).

Dated on the basis of common parts with sepia 1856 "Blessing of children", "Samaritan", "Kazakh woman" and the aforementioned sepia "Prayer for dead" (see № 222 – 223) sent to Br. Zaleski 20.V 1857.

The portrait was gifted by Shevchenko to Uskov family:

"For Uskov family on memory about the time spent with their and himself Shevchenko left portraits of commandant's wife Agafia Emelyanovna with the eldest daughter in her arms, of Katie – Natasha's nanny in the Kyrgyz costume and five landscapes" ["Memories by N.I. Uskova on Taras Shevchenko", "Kyiv antiquity", 1889, Vol. II, p. 304].

Storage areas: property of Uskov family, N. I. Smoljak, Institute of Taras Shevchenko, Kharkiv – Kyiv, Gallery of pictures Shevchenko, Kharkiv.

I. M. Verykivska

After publication: Taras Shevchenko Complete Works in 10 volumes. – Kyiv: ed. Academy of sciences of UkrSSR, 1964, Vol. 9, № 61 (image), p. 38 (note).