A. Butakov and A. Istomin during winter at Kos-Aral

Taras Shevchenko. A. Butakov and paramedic A. Istomin during winter at Kos-Aral. Paper, sepia (18 × 27,3 cm). [Kos-Aral]. [20.XI 1848 – 6.V 1849]. Taras Shevchenko National Museum, inv. g – 758.

On the album sheet, below picture pasted on it, ink inscription (possibly hand O. M. Butakova): Work Shevchenko // A.I. Butakov and paramedic Istomin in the room in Kos-Aral fort.

Butakov shows his back to the viewer. Above the bed – tiger skull, in a letter to the family of 24.XI 1848 Butakov wrote: "We brought it [tiger] in triumph to fort, skin, of course, is my property. I gave it one friend Kyrgyz to treat and head of dzhulbars (ie, only bones) hangs above my bed" [Berg L. S., Essays on the History of Russian geographical discoveries, M.-L., 1949, p. 208].

Picture tiger skull is the basis for setting the initial date.

Mentioned in the literature under the names: "Landscape watercolor of Butakov expedition to describe the Aral sea" ["Images of Taras Shevchenko", no. I, SPb., 1911, Table XXII], " A. I. Butakov and paramedic Istomin in the room in Kos-Aral fort" ["Ukrainian life", Moscow, 1912, № 11, p. 76), "Butakov and Istomin" ("Product painting art Shevchenko, exhibited in galleries", H., 1934, p. 28].

Storage areas: property of Butakov, Glazenap, Kyiv City Museum, Ukrainian historical museum (Kyiv), Gallery of pictures Shevchenko, Kharkiv.

On the back side – the sketch to a picture "Kazakh boy kindles stove" (see number 177).

L. I. Vnuchkova

After publication: Taras Shevchenko Complete Works in 10 volumes. – Kyiv: ed. Academy of sciences of UkrSSR, 1962, vol. 8, № 41 (image), p. 25 (notes).