The Taras Shevchenko’s Outbuilding Museum is one of the 9 branches of the Yahotyn State Historical Museum. At one time the outbuilding was part of Prince Mykola Repnin’s estate – it was used as a hotel for his guests. It was here that Taras Shevchenko stayed during his time in Yahotyn in 1843, and then in 1845 and 1859. Here he wrote and drew. In particular, the walls of the outbuilding were painted by his hand (the paintings, unfortunately, survive only in photographs).
The exposition of the Taras Shevchenko’s Outbuilding Museum recreates the interior of the house during the period T. Shevchenko lived in it. In the 19th century this house was part of the architectural ensemble of M. H. Repnin and was used as a hotel for visiting guests. It was in the Outbuilding that Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko stayed during his time in Yahotyn; here the Great Kobzar wrote the poem “Tryzna” and recorded the folk songs “My falcon, my man” and “The ravens are pecking”.
Of T. Shevchenko’s artworks made in Yahotyn, the following are known: a group portrait of the prince’s grandchildren, a graphic self-portrait of 1843, a drawing from the series “Shevchenko draws a peasant yard”, and two copies of the portrait of M. H. Repnin, after the work of Y. Hornung (this was one of the reasons for his first visit).
In the six thematic halls of the museum are presented works by contemporary artists of Ukraine that recreate moments from T. Shevchenko’s life in the Yahotyn region in 1843–1845, for his life and work are the history, the fate of Ukraine, its past, present and future.
