Portrait of C.A. Schreiders

Taras Shevchenko. Portrait of Constantine Antonovich Schreiders. Stained paper, an Italian and a white pencil (34.6 × 28.3 cm). [Nizhny Novgorod]. [10.I] 1858. Taras Shevchenko National Museum, inv. g – 300.

Under portrait – the author's signature and date in white pencil: 1858. Shevchenko.

On the back at the bottom – ink inscription: "Constantine Antonovich Schreiders + 3 February 1894 v N. – Novgorod".

In the literature erroneously dated November 1857 [A. Rodin, Shevchenko in the way from exile, "Dawn", 1896, № 9, p. 145]

C. A. Schreiders – one of Shevchenko's friends who studied at Kiev University and later became an official for special assignments for governor in Nizhny Novgorod, from January 8, 1858 Shevchenko quartered in his apartment in Nizhny Novgorod.

On request of friends – C. A. Schreiders, A. K. Kadnytsky, M. A. Frelich at November 30, 1857 Shevchenko began to draw their group portrait:

"Today launched their portraits in the group of generous friends. I do not know whether the sense of this invention, the friends are sloppy in sessions, an important factor in service. See what would happen next, and if sessions drag on, then draw in pencil each separately and thus commit account with my buddies. Why would I not want to hurt, and the more that the estimated figure in sepia very well grouped. And I would like to pay them a decent debt".

Conceived group portrait Shevchenko did not finish (see number 151).

January 10, 1858 Shevchenko recorded in his diary:

"Painted a portrait of Schreiders, and quite successfully. Part of the debt then paid. I should also draw Frelich and Kadinsky, and then quits" [Shevchenko mistakenly Kadnytsky calls Kadynsky (see "Address-Calendar", Nizhny Novgorod, 1857, Part II, p. 92)].

See also portraits of A. K. Kadnytsky, M. A. Frelich and notes to them.

Storage areas: property of C. A. Schreiders, P. J. Morozova, A. Novitsky, Lenin's Library in Moscow, the Institute of Taras Shevchenko, Kharkiv, 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, № 19 (image), p. 14 – 15 (note).