Background
He was born to a wealthy family which enabled him to be educated at prestigious private schools. This encouraged him to move to Rome and, thanks to his father"s financial support, he was able to study with Vincenzo Camuccini.
He was born to a wealthy family which enabled him to be educated at prestigious private schools. This encouraged him to move to Rome and, thanks to his father"s financial support, he was able to study with Vincenzo Camuccini.
After completing his primary studies, he enrolled at the Accademia Carrara, where he studied with Giuseppe Diotti.
In 1820, he moved to Milan. He also enjoyed the patronage of Cardinal Angelo Mai, who was a fellow Bergamaschi. In 1844, he was offered the position of Director at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City, but declined to accept.
Fourteen years later, faced with declining commissions, he accepted a position as President of the Accademia di San Luca.
In the late 1860s, he became involved in politics as well as art, when preparations were being made for the Papal States to be annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. The Accademia was considered to be part of the Pope"s temporal domain and was transformed into the "Royal Academy".
lieutenant was a difficult process and, because he had already come under criticism for his performance in office, he was relieved of his teaching duties in 1873 and suspended as President. Two years later, he died of apoplexy.