Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko and Poltava
According to the researches of historians, creative activity of the classic of Ukrainian literature Taras Shevchenko was closely connected with Poltava land.
So-called period of "three years" combined life of the poet with Poltava land - 1843-1846, 1859 years. Here
Taras Hryhorovych wrote many essays and drew a lot of pictures. For example, in the novel "Twins" Poltava mentioned about 30 times. The scene of the poem “Hireling” took place in Poltava, here were written the poems "Blind","The Great Cellar","Holodnyi Yar", "David’s Psalms", "Days pass, go by nights", "Mariana the Nun”.
Historian Serhyi Dotsenko in his research paperes mentions that in 1843 Taras Shevchenko visited parent substance of Poltava writer Yevhen Hrebinka, with who were good friends. Manor was not far from Pyriatyn. Researcher O. Afanasyev-Chuzhbynskyi mentions that the poet also visited the village of Moysivka, Pyriatyn County. Owner of local estate arranged twice a year a ball, which have repeatedly visited Taras Shevchenko. Later, in letters to friends he recalled merry evenings at the estate, talks about culture and status of serfs.
In August 1843 Taras Hryhorovych arrived in the city of Lubny. At that time, as the poet said himself, he "was completely disillusioned with landowners and visited only a few”. Shevchenko had dinner with a local landowner, officer Fyodor Trepov. Came to the house, the poet saw tired servant, who dozed in the lobby. The landlord has also noticed that his servant slept, and severely punished him. Taras Hryhorovych, turned around and went home without saying goodbye. Landlord asked him to return, but Shevchenko would not even speak.
It is known that Taras Shevchenko worked as the employee at Archeographic commission, led "Archaeological notes”. He was describing the historical monuments, places he visited. In particular wrote about the old fortifications in Lubny.
Taras Shevchenko often visited estate of lords Zakrevsky in the village of Berezova Rudka Pyriatyn County. The first came from Yagotyn in summer of 1843. In the village has often met with Sofia Zakrevska, who at that time was the famous Russian writer. They found interesting common themes that worried both. The owner of Berezova Rudka was Plato Zakrevsky, narrow-minded and rude man. According to the historical data he whipped serfs in his own stables. Mr. Zakrevsky had a beautiful wife. Anna Zakrevska was younger than her husband by twenty years. Taras Shevchenko was captivated by her beauty. He painted a portrait of Anna, dedicated to her a poem, "If we meet again", "H.Z”.
In Berezova Rudka Shevchenko also made friends with artist-serf A. Tretyachevskyi. It was in this village emerged first lines of the poem "Caucasus":
Over the mountains the mountains, with cloud covered,
With grief they sown, with blood watered.
The writer loved to talk with the peasants and landlord’s servants. There is a historical fact that the poet gave a landlord’s kozachok “Kobzar” with own signature. In 1960, in Berezova Rudka was opened Shevchenko museum in which there are over 300 exhibits. In 1961 at the former house of lords Zakrevsky was installed the memorial tablet with the inscription: "In this house in 1843, 1845, 1846 years was the great Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko."
In the village Reshetylivka Taras Shevchenko stayed in the house of landlord Popov, oppressive and power-
loving man. He had a big library, where he kept a variety of documentary materials and books on the history of Ukraine. Contemporaries of Shevchenko recall in their memoirs that the poet carefully studied them, was interested in the past of his homeland. In Reshetylivka Taras created two pictures, which were called "In Reshetylivka”. Some historians tend to believe that the poet was not really committed to landlord Popov, although the latter allowed him to use books and was glad of the society of already known at the time author.
In July 1845, Taras Shevchenko visited the Il'inskii fair in Romny. From there through Lokhvytsia and Myrhorod went to the village of Vasylivka, near Khorol. However, was outraged at ill-treatment to serfes of landowner Rodzianka and moved to the village of Veselyi Podil, home of our other countrymen – Leonid Hlibov. Here Shevchenko painted watercolor portrait of the two-year-old son of local landowner, met a teacher and composer Ventseslav Yedlichka. From Veselyi Poldil visited Khorol, Zayichyntsi, Vyshnyaky. But Taras Hryhorovych did not find a common language with landlord of Veselyi Poldil and one day left the estate, when everybody was asleep. The reason for such an action was slap in the face, which gave the lord’s butler the servant boy in the presence of the poet. Simple people, who suffered from self-will of landlords, Taras Shevchenko called "silent serfes" and landowners - "executioners, cannibal". No wonder the attitude of landlords to ordinary people, “serfs" took a significant place in the creative work of Shevchenko.
In the summer of 1845 the poet visited the Old Sanjary, Pryluky, Khorol and other locations. In October 1845 - Myrhorod, where wrote the poem "Do not marry on the rich", "Do not be envious of the rich". Nearby was the village Zlodiyivka (now the village Psil's'ke Velyka Bahachka District), poet loved to come there to bathe. During his stay in Poltava Shevchenko painted house of our glorious countryman - Ivan Petrovych Kotlyarevsky. Later he sent to Poltava Sunday schools his "Bukvar". In 1859 visited Hadyach.
Some researchers of Shevchenko’s biography tend to believe that he visited in 1845 Vasylivka village Poltava County (now the village Gogoleve Shyshaky district). It was like the poet met the mother of the writer Mykola Gogol, whose works he valued much. Even painted portraits of his friends, illustrated the story of Mykola Gogol
"Taras Bulba”. In the village drew the landscape of the church "In Vasylivka”. But skeptics believe that the picture was painted the same name written in another village of Khorol County (now Semenivka district).
One of the most famous poems by Taras Shevchenko is "Testament". After the death of the poet this work was put to music, it became a folk song, a symbol of the Ukrainian unbroken spirit. Taras Shevchenko wrote it in December 1845 in Pereyaslav, Poltava province. By the time he was in the house of doctor Andrii Kozachkovskyi. Lines were inspired by serious illness, which unsettled mercilessly vital forces of the poet. Firstly the poem was published in 1859 and entitled "Thought". Full "Testament" appeared in "Kobzar" in 1907. Text of a poem in 60 years of XIX century put to music Mykola Lysenko and Mykola Verbitsky. In the 70's music to a poem was written by Poltava composer Gordiy Gladkiy. "Testament" belongs to the masterpieces of world poetry, translated into nearly all languages.
In 1918, in Romny, Poltava land sculptor Ivan Kavaleridze erected Ukraine's first monument to Taras Shevchenko. Eight years later a monument to the great poet was opened in Poltava. Shevchenko bust was erected in many towns and villages of Poltava land. And on the outskirts of Poltava is still growing oak planted in memory of the poet in May 1861.
