He spent the years 1750–53 in Rome, where he became acquainted with the architect, Sir William Chambers, and the sculptor, Joseph Wilton whom he accompanied to England in August 1755.

[4] At Somerset House, also built by his friend Chambers, he prepared the decorations for the interior of the north block, including the rooms into which the Royal Academy moved in 1750,[4] which now houses the Courtauld Gallery[6] The central panel of the Royal Academy's ante-room was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds[6] but the four compartments in the coves, representing Allegory, Fable, Nature and History, were Cipriani's.

These designs include the five masks forming the keystones to the arches on the courtyard side of the vestibule, and the two above the doors leading into the wings of the north block, all believed to have been carved by Joseph Nollekens.

Cipriani made some engravings, including "The Death of Cleopatra," after Benvenuto Cellini; "The Descent of the Holy Ghost," after Gabbiani; and portraits for Thomas Hollis's memoirs, 1780.

He designed many groups, of nymphs and amorini and medallion subjects to form the centre of Pergolesi's bands of ornament, and they were continually reproduced upon the elegant satin-wood furniture which was growing popular in his later days and by the end of the 18th century became a rage.

[7] Cipriani died in Hammersmith in west London, and was buried at Dovehouse Green, Chelsea,[8] where Bartolozzi erected a monument to his memory.