Kharkiv

Monument to Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko

Monuments

Description

  • The monument to Taras Shevchenko is one of the most complex monuments to Kobzar in the world in architectural terms
  • Today it is impossible to imagine the first capital without a monument to Taras Shevchenko.

Judging by the fact that you have already passed to this page, you are already near the monument in the central alley. And, for sure, they became interested in what was behind the story. The story is considerable. But more on that later.

As you can see, the monument is not limited to a sculpture by Shevchenko, so let's get to know all of them. According to the plan, all 16 statues symbolize people of work and their struggle for their rights against oppressors, from the rebellious and rebellious images from the works of Shevchenko to the participants of the Russian Revolution of 1905-1907, the October Revolution of 1917 and a group of people who embody the then modern era, when the monument was built.
Unlike the statue of Kobzar, which is dominant and located at the very height, the rest can be seen close up. And they should be considered in a certain sequence. Found a statue of a woman with a baby in her arms? Fine. The path through the composition begins with it.
1. This sculpture is named “Katerina”. A serf with a baby in her arms, which Shevchenko sang in the poem of the same name as the embodiment of the image of a woman mother under the burden of loneliness and grunt.
The statue was the first of the only two, which is perceived separately. All the rest are already going in groups according to certain ideological compositions.
2. Here is the first composition. It consists of three characters: “The dying Gaydamak”, “Gaydamak with a scythe” and “Tearing the fetters”. They are united by a binding with the poem “Gaydamaki”, which tells about the events of the koliivschina. If we talk about the spirit that they create, then this is a life-affirming belief in the invincibility of the national spirit and faith in its victory.
3. Now let's move on to the last single sculpture. “Bound Cossack” - an image that conveys the patriotic and multifaceted character of the hero, which embodies popular power, greatness, sorrow and pain.
4. Return to the compositions. We have the second in our account. This is a triple of “Woman Peasant”, “Bearing Millstone” and “Recruit Soldier”. Each of them is an image of representatives of different strata of the working people, embodying their suffering in the time of tsarism.
5. The third composition. There are already more characters than usual. “Worker with an advanced flag”, “Student”, “Worker with a rifle”, “Sailor” and “Red Army man” as images of the rebellious people during the social cataclysms of the first decade of the twentieth century.
6. The fourth. Last and final. “Peasant”, “Miner” and “Woman with a book”, as conceived by the author, convey the changes that have occurred in Soviet society.
7. And finally, still, raise your head. I think T.G. Shevchenko needs no introduction.
And now, when you have already met, we will move on to the story itself.

Judging by the fact that you have already passed to this page, you are already near the monument in the central alley. And, for sure, they became interested in what was behind the story. The story is considerable. But more on that later.

As you can see, the monument is not limited to a sculpture by Shevchenko, so let's get to know all of them. According to the plan, all 16 statues symbolize people of work and their struggle for their rights against oppressors, from the rebellious and rebellious images from the works of Shevchenko to the participants of the Russian Revolution of 1905-1907, the October Revolution of 1917 and a group of people who embody the then modern era, when the monument was built.
Unlike the statue of Kobzar, which is dominant and located at the very height, the rest can be seen close up. And they should be considered in a certain sequence. Found a statue of a woman with a baby in her arms? Fine. The path through the composition begins with it.
1. This sculpture is named “Katerina”. A serf with a baby in her arms, which Shevchenko sang in the poem of the same name as the embodiment of the image of a woman mother under the burden of loneliness and grunt.
The statue was the first of the only two, which is perceived separately. All the rest are already going in groups according to certain ideological compositions.
2. Here is the first composition. It consists of three characters: “The dying Gaydamak”, “Gaydamak with a scythe” and “Tearing the fetters”. They are united by a binding with the poem “Gaydamaki”, which tells about the events of the koliivschina. If we talk about the spirit that they create, then this is a life-affirming belief in the invincibility of the national spirit and faith in its victory.
3. Now let's move on to the last single sculpture. “Bound Cossack” - an image that conveys the patriotic and multifaceted character of the hero, which embodies popular power, greatness, sorrow and pain.
4. Return to the compositions. We have the second in our account. This is a triple of “Woman Peasant”, “Bearing Millstone” and “Recruit Soldier”. Each of them is an image of representatives of different strata of the working people, embodying their suffering in the time of tsarism.
5. The third composition. There are already more characters than usual. “Worker with an advanced flag”, “Student”, “Worker with a rifle”, “Sailor” and “Red Army man” as images of the rebellious people during the social cataclysms of the first decade of the twentieth century.
6. The fourth. Last and final. “Peasant”, “Miner” and “Woman with a book”, as conceived by the author, convey the changes that have occurred in Soviet society.
7. And finally, still, raise your head. I think T.G. Shevchenko needs no introduction.
And now, when you have already met, we will move on to the story itself.

How to get there?

The monument is located in the heart of Kharkov, at the entrance to the central avenue of the Garden named after T. G. Shevchenko. Not far from the metro station "University" and "Sovetskaya". The facade is perfectly visible from the central highway of the city - Sumy Street.

And also nearby

HISTORY

  • Kharkov is known as the city where the first monument to Taras Shevchenko appeared in Ukraine
  • The idea of its creation was proposed by the Alchevsky family
  • The grand opening of the monument took place on March 24, 1935 and became a national holiday. The decorated city was jubilant. The fireworks struck and the large choir sang "Shepherd" by Shevchenko.

Whether you knew it or not, Kharkov was the first city to erect a monument to Taras Shevchenko. He first appeared in the city thanks to the Alchevsky family. But they started small. As we know it, the monument did not immediately.

Started with a bust.
In 1897, Alexei Kirillovich Alchevsky ordered the famous academician and professor of the Petersburg Academy of Arts and part-time native of Kharkov, V.A. Beklemishev, a bust of Shevchenko from white marble.
A year later, when he was already ready, they decided to install him near the estate of the enlightener and founder of the Sunday women's school Khristina Alchevskaya, on Darwin Street, then Sadovo-Kulikovskaya. They put it, of course, not quite legally, they did not ask permission from the tsarist government. But this act in its own way coincides with Beklemishev’s vision of the poet himself, that "he was a philosopher and a fighter, ready for decisive and active action." Over time, the newly-made “monument” gathered around itself students and Sunday school pupils. But in 1901, before the 40th anniversary of the death of Shevchenko, the monument was removed.
This event had another version. At the same time, during the economic crisis, A.K. Alchevsky went bankrupt and laid hands on himself. The family had to urgently get rid of the estate and they sold it to a certain merchant Shabelsky. For unknown reasons, the new owner wanted to destroy the bust. The Alchevskys did not let him do this and took the bust far away from the aggressive new homeowner. For 20 years, they kept it in a safer place - in their family. But this is only a version.

Whether you knew it or not, Kharkov was the first city to erect a monument to Taras Shevchenko. He first appeared in the city thanks to the Alchevsky family. But they started small. As we know it, the monument did not immediately.

Started with a bust.
In 1897, Alexei Kirillovich Alchevsky ordered the famous academician and professor of the Petersburg Academy of Arts and part-time native of Kharkov, V.A. Beklemishev, a bust of Shevchenko from white marble.
A year later, when he was already ready, they decided to install him near the estate of the enlightener and founder of the Sunday women's school Khristina Alchevskaya, on Darwin Street, then Sadovo-Kulikovskaya. They put it, of course, not quite legally, they did not ask permission from the tsarist government. But this act in its own way coincides with Beklemishev’s vision of the poet himself, that "he was a philosopher and a fighter, ready for decisive and active action." Over time, the newly-made “monument” gathered around itself students and Sunday school pupils. But in 1901, before the 40th anniversary of the death of Shevchenko, the monument was removed.
This event had another version. At the same time, during the economic crisis, A.K. Alchevsky went bankrupt and laid hands on himself. The family had to urgently get rid of the estate and they sold it to a certain merchant Shabelsky. For unknown reasons, the new owner wanted to destroy the bust. The Alchevskys did not let him do this and took the bust far away from the aggressive new homeowner. For 20 years, they kept it in a safer place - in their family. But this is only a version.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • It is probably hard not to notice how tourists revolve around the monument and look for something with their eyes. This is no accident. Among the statues is a wheel hidden from a tractor from the time of the first collective farms. According to “popular beliefs”, one who finds him himself will remain in Kharkov forever.
  • During the filming of the film “Dau”, which took place in Kharkov in 2009, for greater realism, the monument was painted with black gouache in order to return the bright black color that the pedestal had in the early years. After filming, the city services cleaned and returned the monument to its usual form.
  • It is probably hard not to notice how tourists revolve around the monument and look for something with their eyes. This is no accident. Among the statues is a wheel hidden from a tractor from the time of the first collective farms. According to “popular beliefs”, one who finds him himself will remain in Kharkov forever.
  • During the filming of the film “Dau”, which took place in Kharkov in 2009, for greater realism, the monument was painted with black gouache in order to return the bright black color that the pedestal had in the early years. After filming, the city services cleaned and returned the monument to its usual form.