Thumbnail average majolica frieze for the house of the insurance company "Russia" on Bolshaya Morskaya Street (Nicholas Roerich?) Roerich N.K. (Part 1)

The drawing presents a stylized architectural facade set against a wintry landscape. A symmetrical building dominates the composition; its structure is characterized by a grid-like arrangement of windows and rectangular recesses, suggesting a formal, possibly institutional character. Snow blankets the roofline and accumulates in drifts along the base of the walls, creating a sense of coldness and stillness.
Figures are integrated into the design as decorative elements flanking the buildings entrance. On the left, a group of animals – likely wolves or dogs – are depicted within an arched niche, their forms rendered with simplified lines and minimal detail. To the right, a single figure, possibly a warrior or heraldic symbol, stands in profile, holding what appears to be a shield or emblem. These figures contribute to a narrative quality, hinting at themes of protection, vigilance, or perhaps national identity.
Above the building, Roman numerals are inscribed across the top edge of the drawing, seemingly marking divisions or sections within a larger frieze. The inscription in the upper right corner suggests an attribution and possibly a date.
The color palette is restrained, primarily consisting of muted grays, whites, and browns, which reinforces the overall impression of austerity and formality. The artist’s use of line is deliberate; it defines shapes with precision while maintaining a degree of flatness that emphasizes the decorative nature of the work.
Subtly, theres an interplay between the buildings rigid geometry and the organic forms of the surrounding landscape and figures. This juxtaposition might suggest a tension between human order and natural forces, or perhaps a desire to integrate architectural design with symbolic storytelling. The overall effect is one of controlled elegance, indicative of a commission intended for public display – a visual statement meant to convey stability and authority.