Anatoly Gunst

In 1878, he entered the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, from which he graduated in 1882.

During his studies, he was a construction assistant for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, as well as several smaller projects, and taught drawing at the Komissarov Technical School [ru].

He applied for government certification, to give his students the same status as those in public institutions, but both major schools in Moscow, his alma mater and the Stroganov Moscow State Academy of Arts and Industry, were against the proposal.

In 1904, he received the post of supernumerary technician of the Construction Department of the Moscow Governorate.

He was also an amateur actor; participating in the Drama Salon Society, whose members included Maria Yermolova and Alexander Yuzhin.