Portrait of C. N. Kozachenko
Taras Shevchenko. Portrait of Catherine Nikiforovna Kozachenko. Stained paper, an Italian and a white pencil (28.6 × 25.1 cm). [No later than] 30.VIII 1857. Taras Shevchenko National Museum, inv. g – 818.
There is an inscription by Shevchenko hand in white pencil under portrait: To A. A. S. By heart 30 August 1857 Sh.
At August 16, 1857 in Astrakhan Shevchenko met with A. A. Sapozhnikov, who offered him a cabin on the ship "Prince Pozharsky". Together with Sapozhnikov family Shevchenko traveled to Nizhny Novgorod, where they arrived on September 20. September 21 Sapozhnikov moved to St. Petersburg and Shevchenko did not met with him more.
This fact indicates that this portrait as well as portraits of T. S. Epifanov, M. Komarowski and E. Panchenko, who were also in the family Sapozhnikov, could be performed only during their joint tour from Astrakhan to Nizhni Novgorod, as evidenced by appropriate records Shevchenko in his diary.
Inscription on the portrait corresponds record Shevchenko on August 30, 1857:
"With respect for the birthday and the accepted custom to give gifts, today I gave Alexander Alexandrovich portrait of his mother – m-me Kozachenko. Portrait done in one session with white and black pencils rather crudely, but not devoid of expression".
The portrait is made on the boat while traveling between Kamyshin and Saratov.
As a portrait of Kozachenko first published by M. I. Matsapura ["Unpublished pictures of Shevchenko", "Soviet Art" from 17.III 1949, № 11].
Storage areas: property of A. A. Sapozhnikov family, prof. G. Ja. Kuuzik, Gallery of pictures Shevchenko, Kharkiv.
N. P. Prokopenko
After publication: Taras Shevchenko Complete Works in 10 volumes. – Kyiv: ed. Academy of sciences of UkrSSR, 1963, v. 10, № 3 (image), p. 7 – 8 (notes).