The film was made on the basis of the movie series "Taras Shevchenko. Will".

St. Petersburg. Taras Shevchenko intends to return to her native land. His close friend Carl Bryullov recommends that he engage in painting. He is sure that it will help Taras to accumulate the necessary amount faster and go to study in Italy. But Shevchenko is more attracted to the poetic path. However, he returns home with a letter from Professor of the Imperial Academy of Arts Vasily Grigorovich, which gives him the right to hold artistic classes in the Little Russian provinces. Soon Taras comes to Yagotin. There he is to work on portraits of Prince Nicholas Repnin-Volkonsky and his relatives. Barbara, daughter of a nobleman, is very pleased to meet Taras. Two years ago, Mikhail Shchepkin from Moscow sent her two books: a compilation of Shevchenko's poems entitled "Kobzar" and his poetic work "Haydamaky". At that time, Taras was almost unknown to anyone, but Barbara was delighted to read. From then on, she dreamed of getting to know him. After realizing this desire, the princess realized that she felt something more than just sympathy for Taras ...