Sources on development of prikaz embankment architectural look in the 17th century

The excavations carried out by the Institute of Archaeology, RAS, in the Grand Kremlin Public Garden discovered foundation pits of the river bank building of the Prikazes (prikaz is an administrative, judicial, territorial, or executive office) from the 17th century. The building was known only from 18th century engravings that could not give a full understanding of its architecture; for this reason, it was not included in the history of Russian art. Fragments of the building found by the archaeologists provide the first material evidence of its existence, the excavations launched the study of its history and architecture. The paper systemizes available archival data reconstructing chronology regarding the construction of the prikaz group of buildings. Written and illustrative sources demonstrate that the Prikazes were built in the period from 1675 to 1702 in six stages. Each stage was reflected in the decoration of the building facade documented in a schematic drawing of the northern facade made in the 1740s. Naberezhnye Prikazes, therefore, fit into the development trends of the capital architecture in the last quarter of the 17th century, being one of the first historical sites due to specific features of their facade decoration and building massing.