Portrait of T. Z. Epifanov

Taras Shevchenko. Portrait of Tikhon Zinovievich Epifanov. Stained paper, an Italian and a white pencil (28.7 × 21.1 cm). [2.IX 1857]. Taras Shevchenko National Museum, inv. g – 816.

Bottom right pencil inscription: Shevchenko 57.

This portrait is one of four portraits that were made by Shevchenko on the boat while traveling from Astrakhan to Nizhni Novgorod in 1857 and kept in A. A. Sapozhnikov.

In his diary Shevchenko on September 2, 1857 recorded:

"A. A. went ashore and soon returned to the ship with its general manager Tikhon Z. Epifanov. White with black eyebrows, fresh, amazingly handsome old man with beautiful manners, and shadows are reminiscent of Russian merchant. He reminded me vividly of his exquisite appearance my uncle Shevchenko – Hryn".

This recording, as well as common methods of execution of this portrait with portraits of C. N. Kozachenko, M. Komarowski and E. Panchenko is the basis for determining the portrayed person and the execution time of the portrait.

As a portrait of Epifanov first published by M. I. Matsapura ["Unpublished pictures of Shevchenko", "Soviet Art" from 17.III 1949, № 11].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, 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, № 6 (image), p. 8 – 9 (note).