Background
He was born in San Frediano a Settimo near Pisa.
He was born in San Frediano a Settimo near Pisa.
He studied first in the Academy of Pisa, then in the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, under Antonio Ciseri and Enrico Pollastrini.
His painting of Carlo Emanuele di Savoia dispatches the Spanish Ambassador (1868), first exhibited in Florence, and awarded a prize at an exhibition in Pistoia in 1889, gave him recognition. In 1888, Francesco was named professor of the Academy of Arts in Bologna and Florence. Francesco was helped by his fellow painter Giovanni Fattori and Silvestro Lega.
He died in Florence.
He often painted rural scenes of grape harvesting. Among his paintings are Goldoni visits Rousseau (1869). Dal Sola alle Renaiole, dalle Macchiaiole di San Rossore alla Vendemmia allegra.
L"Autunno, and la Vendemmia (1885).
Il Tempo di Vendemmia (1886). Il Ritornando dalla vendemmia (1889).
Nel Vendemmia allegra (1908). In 1872 he painted l"Acqua.
A year later he painted Louisiana Portatrice d"acqua, depicting a young female water porter in the countryside.
He also painted la Gioventù (1891), in Tuscan Peasant (1892), Tramonto a Castiglioncello. Sera di luna, Pesca a sciabica, Venditrice di arselle, and Renaioli. In 1909 he presented at Venice: Florentine Harmonies, four vedute of Florence.