In 1885, at the insistence of his parents, he entered the law school at Moscow State University and graduated in 1891.

[2] 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.

[1] In 1896, his painting of lawyers during recess earned him the title of "Artist" and a stipend for further study abroad.

[2] After travelling throughout Northern Europe, he returned in 1900, settled in Saint Petersburg and taught at the studio operated by Princess Maria Tenisheva.

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).