Russian uzorochie (Russian: Русское узорочье) or Ouzorotché style (Russian: московское узорочье) is an architectural style that was formed in the 17th century on the territory of the Russian state, characterized by intricate forms, an abundance of decor, the complexity of composition and the picturesque silhouette.
History
There is no unequivocal opinion about the origin of the style. Oppositions of views on the temporal relationship of church and civil forms. Some researchers find in the Russian uzorochie features of “secularism” and point to borrowings from civil architecture (closed vaults, cornices, platbands, lined belts). Others hold an opinion on the primacy for this style of its ecclesiastical form. Invented widespread and well-known to us now taits.
It is widely believed that the Russian ornament is linked to the European late Renaissance and Mannerism.
Two stages are distinguished in the development of the style: early (Alexey Mikhailovich’s style) and later (Feodor Alekseevich’s style).
Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, the Russian uzorochie is evolutionarily replaced by Russian baroque, sometimes these concepts are mixed or mistakenly interchanged
In the XIX century, Russian uzoroch’e – a source of quotes and an object of imitation for the architecture of eclecticism and historicism.
At the beginning of the XX century – one of the main sources of inspiration for the architecture of Art Nouveau.
Key Features
Composition
Throughout the entire period of its existence, Russian uzorochie undergoes a significant evolution. For the first half of the 17th century, a complex spatial composition is typical. Typical stone structures of this period – besstolpnye temples with a closed vault, on a high podklete, with a refectory, side-altars and a bell tower. They usually have five heads, glazes over the side-altars, tents above the porch and bell tower, tiers of kokoshniks over the vaults. The composition loses monumental clarity.
Naos in the plan has a transverse orientation, thus increasing the degree of individual in prayer and liturgy.
For the second half of the XVII century, clear and balanced, often symmetrical, compositions are more characteristic. At the same time, the decor of the facades becomes also more balanced, its placement on the facades is subordinated to the warrant.
Roof
The tented completion of the temples, the bell towers and the covering of the fenders. Two or three tents at such temples as a rule had no constructive value, but were a decorative element. Similar to the architectural solution are the Church of the Introduction of the Transfiguration of the Vorotyn Monastery, the Assumption Church of the Annunciation Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod and others.
Drums five-headed were usually deaf, as well as tents, being a decorative element (as opposed to light drums).
Barrel-shaped roofs.
Porch
Tent roofing. Creeping porch. Weights.
Decor
Carved window frames (including in the form of kokoshnikov), multi-tiered kokoshniks in arches, cornices in the form of “cock’s combs”, twisted columns, semicolumns. Interior: rich color floral ornament of walls and arches.
The area of decoration on the walls is very high. Columns, flys, cornices, platbands, tiles.
Decoration
The decoration around the windows is rich, above the cornices rows of kokochniks are frequent, columns and pilasters often cover the facades. The interiors are covered with rich floral motifs on the walls and ceilings. The space reserved for the decoration of the walls is very important to receive decorated tiles, cornices, small columns…
Examples
Palace
This is an example of civil architecture in the Moscow Kremlin.
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Poutinki
The rectangular part is surmounted by three drums, covered with roofs in the form of tents. The entrance is surmounted by a first drum at the foot of which the kokochniks multiply and a second topped by a skylight with two floors. Heir to a few specific traits in the architecture of the xvi th century, this church is one of the best examples of the style in Moscow ouzorotché.
Trinity Church of Nikitinki
Trinity Church of Nikitinki (1628-1653, Moscow)
Nicolas Wonderworker Church in Khamovniki
Nicolas Church of Khamovniki in Moscow
Church of Saints Constantine and Helena (Vologda)
Church of Saints Constantine and Helena (Vologda) (about 1690)
At the end of the xvii th century Russian Baroque has not spread in the city of Vologda, but the spirit of ouzorotché style was present 9. The decoration of the church of Constantine and Helen is typical of the Uzorotche style: its arcades, its corbels, its pilasters, the openings in the steeple to bring in the light, the porch with its columns, the octagonal bell tower on three levels. It dates from the end of the century and the composition has become clearer, more precise, more balanced.
Source from Wikipedia