Background
He was born to a family of merchants.
He was born to a family of merchants.
In 1885, at the insistence of his parents, he entered the law school at Moscow State University and graduated in 1891.
His first art lessons were at the "реальном училище" (Realschule) in Saratov. While there, however, he had also taken lessons from Vasily Polenov, who encouraged him to become an artist. He went almost directly from the University to the Imperial Academy of Arts, where he studied with Pavel Chistyakov and Ilya Repin, becoming one of the latter"s favorite students.
In 1896, his painting of lawyers during recess earned him the title of "Artist" and a stipend for further study abroad.
As a result, he went to Paris, where he enrolled at the Académie Julian and worked with Tony Robert-Fleury. After travelling throughout Northern Europe, he returned in 1900, settled in Saint St. Petersburg and taught at the studio operated by Princess Maria Tenisheva.
Four years later, he moved to the Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry. He also gave private lessons.
In recognition of his pedagogical efforts, he was awarded the Order of Saint Anna.
Boris Grigoriev was his best-known student at the State University.
In 1914, he became a member of the Peredvizhniki, participating in their 42nd, 44th, 45th and 46th exhibitions. After the Revolution, in addition to his usual employment, he taught at several handicraft schools and workers" associations and was a member of the "Council of Trade Union Painters" (SOZHIV).