In 1878 he participated in the Universal Exposition in Paris with several works including 12 unpublished etchings, gathered in an album titled "Souvenirs de Rome", with a preface by Jules Claretie.

In 1877 at Naples, he exhibited an acquaforte engraving depicting: Revolution of Masaniello; in 1888 at Turin, Portraits of Vittorio Emanuele and King Umberto and I centesimi dell' avaro.

Admiral G. B. Magnaghi, director of the Italian Hydrographic Institute of the Navy hired him in 1889 to produce vedute of the coast and nautical charts.

He was offered a stable pension in a supervisory position, office in Rome, and travel on a ship, the Washington, to circumnavigate around the Italian coast.

[1] In 1904, after admiral Magnaghi died, Piccinni contract was not renewed, but he remained with the Navy until 1917.