A.D. Menshikov

Taras Shevchenko. Portrait of A.D. Menshikov. Engraving (11,5 × 9,5 cm) placed between pages 56 – 57 of the book "Russian generals" by N.A.Polevoj.

Under the portrait engraved on the right: H.R (Henry Robinson).

Menshikov Alexander Danilovich (1673 – 1729) – Prince, the Russian state and military leader, Generalissimo. About Menshikov Shevchenko mentioned in the story "Captain's wife" and "Gemini".

Primary sources in creating a Shevchenko's portrait of A.D. Menshikov, as assumed G.P. Palamarchuk, "was, apparently, engraving by Nikolai Ivanov, made after drawing by Y.I. Argunov (1812) to book "Acts of famous generals and ministers who served in the reign of Peter I» by D.N. Bantysh-Kamensky (Moscow, 1812), and the work of French painter and engraver Charles-Paul Landon" [Palamarchuk G.P. Portraits painted by famous artist // Visual art. – 1981. – № 2. – P. 20].

D.A. Rovinsky, considering the engraved portraits of A.D. Menshikov on the said originals, and gives a description of a portrait, placed in the book by N. Polevoj, without mentioning names of the artist [Rovinsky D.A. Detailed dictionary of Russian engraved portraits. – St. Petersburg, 1889. – T. 1. – S. 1071].

N.P. Prokopenko

After publication: T.H. Shevchenko Complete Works in 12 volumes. – Kyiv: Naukova Dumka, 2003, v. 7, p. 182 – 183 (image), p. 418 (note).