 There he met author and playwright Anton Chekhov and his brother Nikolay Chekhov.Schechtel illustrated a book for Chekhov in 1886, who then recommended Schechtel to other clients.This experience (as well as the Tretyakov connection) familiarized Franz with Moscow's artistic circles and the wealthy patrons of the arts who would become his future clients, notably the Morozov family of Old Believers.