Death of Virginia

Taras Shevchenko. Death of Virginia. 1836. [St. Petersburg].
Watercolour, ink. 25,2 × 35,7 cm
Taras Shevchenko National Museum, № g-315.

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

In the picture shown an episode on the history of ancient Rome, widespread at the Academy of Arts. Decemvirus Appius Claudius (V cent. BC), intending to seize plebeian's daughter Virginia declared her slave of his client Mark Claudius. To save his daughter from slavery, the father with the words "This is the only way to keep you free" killed Virginia and called the army revolted to overthrow the decemvirus government in Rome.

First mentioned in 1930 [Labour newspaper. – Kharkiv, 1930. – 20 March]

Reproduced for the first time and commented in 1932 by A.P. Novitsky [T. Shevchenko Complete Works. – [Kharkiv, 1932. – T. 8]. – P. 19. – № 174. – Tab. 18].

On the mat, in which was framed picture before restoration of 1955, were inscriptions in ink: the middle – Т. Шевченко, right at the bottom – Собраніе А.Θ.Онегина – Paris.

Together with other works entered the collection of A.F. Onegin (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];

1930. Kharkiv. Shevchenko exhibition [M. Panchenko Shevchenko exhibition 1930 // Literary Archives. – 1930. – No. 1 / 2. – S. 130];

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. 26 – 27 (image), p. 360 – 361 (notes).