[1] After a trip to Rome at the age of 18, where he met Pope Leo XIII,[2] upon Romero's recommendation he went to Italy to continue his studies, first with the support of private donors and later on a government scholarship.

he established himself painting portraits of notable people, and became an avid enthusiast for creating landscapes "en plein air".

In 1892, Ballerini was part of the scientific expedition organized by the National Geographic Institute of Argentina and led by Gustavo Niederlein to the Argentine provinces of Chaco, Formosa, Entre Ríos, Corrientes, and Misiones and the neighboring countries of Paraguay and Brazil.

The trip included a visit to Iguazú Falls, where he was hauled up on ropes to the treetops[3] and painted numerous sketches and watercolors as well as at least one oil.

Among Ballerini's most famous paintings are Miraculous Origin of Our Lady of Luján in the Year 1630 (in the National Museum of Fine Arts) and The Crossing of the Andes.