Giovanni Battista Castagneto

Nothing is known about his early education, but he must have displayed some talent because, upon arriving in Brazil in 1874 with his father (who was also a sailor), he immediately sought to enroll in the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes.

He also worked with Georg Grimm between 1882 and 1884, helping him to establish his studio on the beach at Boa Viagem in Niterói, and became one of the first members of what was later known as the "Grupo Grimm",[1] along with Antônio Parreiras, Hipólito Boaventura Carón and others.

From 1890 to 1893, he travelled throughout France, but was not attracted to Paris and chose to paint maritime subjects in Toulon.

While there, he met Frédéric Montenard, who suggested that he study with the well-known seascape painter François Nardi[1] (also of Italian origin).

Upon his return to Brazil, Castagneto put on a major display of his Toulon paintings at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes.