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Taras Shevchenko

Encyclopedia of the life and works

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In Gustynja. Peter and Paul Church (fol. 2 r.)

Taras Shevchenko. In Gustynja. Peter…

Taras Shevchenko. In Gustynja. Peter and Paul Church. Watercolor.
[IV-20.VII 1845]. Sheet 2 of album 1845.

Left bottom – ink inscription by Shevchenko hand: in Gustynja, below in pencil: Peter, Paul.

On the back bottom right – inscription in pencil: Monastir Hustyński.

Gustynja monastery in the village Gustynja near Pryluky, in Poltava province (now village of Pryluky district, Chernihiv region), founded in 1600, finally built in 1674. In a long time the monastery was closed and only in 1843 began its restoration. This was the basis for the O. P. Novitsky wrongly dated picture in 1843, and the entire album respectively define a broad date: 1843 – 1845 ["Paintings of Taras Shevchenko", K., 1936, p. 7]. But O.P. Novitsky not take into account that the restoration work in the monastery continued for several years.

V. M. Repnina in a letter to Shevchenko on January 10, 1845 wrote: "I started to write off the road in Pryluky, where we took the sacred remains of his [Repnin], ie, in the Gustynja monastery… There renewed churchs, and a mother wants to restore one of them over him" ["From the correspondence of Shevchenko with different persons", "Kievan Antiquity," Vol. II, 1897, p. 167]. Consecration of the Church in Gustynja monastery took place after the completion of restoration work – November 12, 1845 [see "Calendar on 1845", Spb., Recording Catherine Galagan on two pasted between 28-29 pages sheets stored in 1st branch of the State Public Library in Kiev]

The drawings made in the Gustynja were mentioned by Shevchenko in the story "Musician":

"I if you please, on behalf of the Kiev Archaeological Commission, visited these ruins… and learned that the monastery was built in 1664… Hearing all this, and drawn, as best I could, the principal, or the holy gates, and the church with five domes of Peter and Paul, and even a refectory and a church, where buried Prince Nicholas G. Repnin, and even survived a fraternal cyclopean hearth – made, I say all this as best I could, I would like the next day to leave Pryluky…"

The mention in the text of one of Gustynja churches, where buried N. G. Repnin is evidence of that picture made in 1845, not in 1843.

N. P. Prokopenko

After publication: Taras Shevchenko Complete works in 10 volumes. – Kyiv: ed. Academy of sciences of UkrSSR, 1961, Vol. 7, part 2, № 204 (image), p. 13 – 14 (note).