Taras Shevchenko March 9 [O.S. February
25] 1814 – March 10 [O.S. February
26] 1861) was a Ukrainian poet, writer,
artist, public and political figure, as well as folklorist and ethnographer.
His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and, to a large extent, the modern Ukrainian language.
Shevchenko is also known for many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.
He was a
member of the Sts Cyril and Methodius
Brotherhood and an academician of the Imperial Academy of Arts.
Shevchenko was
arrested along with other members on April 5, 1847. Tsar Nicholas read
Shevchenko's poem, "The Dream". Vissarion Belinsky wrote in his
memoirs that, Nicholas I, knowing Ukrainian very well, laughed and chuckled
whilst reading the section about himself, but his mood quickly turned to bitter
hatred when he read about his wife.
Shevchenko had mocked her frumpy appearance
and facial tics, which she had developed whilst fearing the Decembrist Uprising
and its plans to kill her family. After reading this section the Tsar
indignantly stated "I suppose he had reasons not to be on terms with me,
but what has she done to deserve this?"
In the official report of count
Orlov Shevchenko was accused in using the Little-Russian language (archaic
Russian name for Ukrainian language) of outrageous content instead of being
grateful to be redeemed out of serfdom.[50] In the report Orlov claims that
Shevchenko was expressing a cry for alleged enslavement and disaster of
Ukraine, glorified the Hetman Administration (Cossack Hetmanate) and Cossack's
liberties and "with incredible audacity poured slander and bile on persons
of Imperial House".
While under the investigation, Shevchenko was
imprisoned in Saint Petersburg in casemates of the 3rd Department of Imperial Chancellary on Panteleimonovskaya
Street (today ulitsa Pestelia, 9). After being convicted, he was exiled as a private with the Russian
military Orenburg garrison at Orsk, near
the Ural Mountains. Tsar Nicholas I,
confirming his sentence, added to it, "Under the strictest surveillance,
without the right to write or paint."
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