Summer 1838 in Kachanovka

Nicholas Zharkikh

– small village (now in Ichnya district Chernigov region). In 1830-50-s it belonged to G. S. Tarnovsky and was often visited cultural figures.

In the summer of 1838 Zabila met here with the composer Mikhail Glinka, historian and poet N. A. Markevich, artist V. I. Sternberg.

B. Sternberg. Night musical gathering in Kachanovka. Summer 1838 (Zabila – second from left, with a pipe in his hand)	B. Sternberg. Portrait of V. N. Zabila. Kachanivka, summer 1838

Glinka composed the music to two poems scored ("" and "") – they have become folk songs.

Sternberg drew a portrait of Zabila (best of 6 existing images). Returning to St. Petersburg, Sternberg talked about his acquaintance to Taras Shevchenko.

Full text available in Ukrainian version of the article.