Nikolay Zherikhov

Nikolay Ivanovich Zherikhov
Nikolay Ivanovich Zherikhov
	Brothel on Plotnikov Lane.
Born	1870s; Moscow
Died	5 October 1916 (aged 45–46); Moscow
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Flyorov School, Solovyov Clinic

Nikolay Ivanovich Zherikhov (died October 5, 1916, in Moscow) was a Russian Art Nouveau architect, active in Moscow in 1902–1914. A prolific author of apartment buildings financed by Broido, Wilner and Zaichenko real estate firms, Zherikhov stood out among contemporary architects for his use of decorative sculpture. Zherikhov's buildings are adorned with rows of life-sized figurative sculptures, including one extant case of explicit erotic art at no. 4, Plotnikov Lane.

Biography

Early life, career

Nikolay Zherikhov was born in a poor peasant family in

Stroganov Institute) remain unknown.^[1] In 1897–1900 Zherikhov worked as drawing and writing teacher in Moscow schools; his first architectural work was made in 1902 for the Broidos, a Jewish family of real estate developers. His two brothers graduated from Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture; they collaborated with Nikolay but did not leave a notable contribution of their own.^[1]

Zherikhov himself never participated in public professional disputes; his name and works were neglected by the press. His road to success remains a mystery; Zherikhov, once an ordinary teacher, instantly became a fashionable architect and authored over 50 buildings in affluent districts of Moscow in twelve years of his short career.[2] A prolific author of apartment buildings financed by Broido, Wilner and Zaichenko real estate firms, Zherikhov stood out among contemporary architects for his use of decorative sculpture.

Style, works

His use of sculpture has been linked to the legacy of Stroganov Institute school that focused on elaborate facade decorations.

Nikolay Gogol.^[4] The name of the sculptor has been lost; perhaps it was Leeb Sinayev, author of Pushkin Museum friezes, or one of his disciples.^[3] Tourist guides say that the building once housed a high-class brothel,^[4] but the statement is refuted by historians as an urban legend.^[3]

Zherikhov, like contemporary

New Arbat Street.^[3]

Buildings

School in Merzlyakovsky Lane.	Moscow, Novy Arbat 5^[5]	Maly Mogiltsevsky Lane, Zherikhov, 1900s	Merzlyakovsky Lane, Moscow. Musical college	Moscow, Schepkina, 1913. Zherikhov