Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
He initially studied with Enrico Pollastrini in Florence. In 1859, he was admitted to the nude figure lessons at the Accademia di Belle Arti. Three years later, he made his debut with a work depicting Benedetto Varchi, discussing Florentine history with Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Together with other painters and men of letters, he frequented the cultural salons held at the home of the architect and his wife, the Irish-born poet Louisa Grace Bartolini, who was also an artist.