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Taras Shevchenko

Encyclopedia of the life and works

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Death of Oleg, Prince drevlyan

Taras Shevchenko. Death of Oleg,…

Taras Shevchenko. Death of Oleg, Prince drevlyan. 1836. [St. Petersburg].
Paper, ink, brush. 27,6 × 38,9 cm.
Taras Shevchenko National Museum, № g-317.

Left bottom author's date and signature in ink: 1836 // Шевченко.

In the picture represented the episode on the history of Kievan Rus – killing of prince Oleg by his brother Kiev prince Yaropolk (977) incentive for magistrates Svineld described in historical literature [Ozerov V.A. Yaropolk and Oleg // Works. – SPb., 1828. – T. 1; Polevoj N. Originally story version for reading. – M., 1835. – Part 1].

Composition of the picture closely corresponds to description of event by N.M. Karamzin:

"Winner Yaropolk saw bloody dead body of Oleg, who was lying on the carpet before his eyes, forgot about his triumph, showed remorse and tears, and with regret pointing the dead said to Svineld: "Is this what you want?.."» [Karamzin N.M. History of Russian state. – SPb., 1833. – Vol. 1. – S. 197].

First described and reproduced 1932 by A.P. Novitsky [T. Shevchenko Complete Works. – [Kharkiv, 1932. – T. 8]. – S. 20. – № 175. – Tab. 19].

Also referred to as "From the life of feudal Russia" [Catalog of brush creativity by T.H. Shevchenko, exhibited in the gallery. – Kharkiv, 1934. – S. 14].

Together with other works entered the A.F. Onegin's collection (see comment "Death of Lucretia").

Storage areas: collection of A.F. Onegin (Paris); since 1928 – Pushkin House of the USSR (Leningrad); from 1930 – Taras Shevchenko Institute; from 1932 – Gallery of pictures by T.H. Shevchenko (Kharkiv); from 1948 – State Museum of T.H. Shevchenko (Kyiv). More on storage – in the comments to "Death of Lucretia".

Exhibitions:

1930. Leningrad. Exhibition of A.F. Onegin's collections [Pushkin House. Exhibition of A.F. Onegin's collections. – L., 1930. – S. 5];

1964. Kyiv – Moscow. Shevchenko Jubilee Exhibition [Jubilee art exhibition on the 150-year anniversary of the birth of T.H. Shevchenko: catalog. – Kiev, 1964. – S. 5];

1984. Kyiv. Shevchenko-artist. 170-th birthday [Shevchenko-artist: Exhibition Catalogue. – K., 1986. – P. 7].

I.M. Verykivska

After publication: T.H. Shevchenko Complete Works in 12 volumes. – K.: Naukova Dumka, 2003, v. 7, p. 24 – 25 (image), p. 359 – 360 (notes).