Luigi Marchesi (painter)

[1] In 1845, he exhibited some paintings at the "Esposizione delle opere degli Artisti e dei Dilettanti" (Exposition of Works by Artists and Amateurs), held by the Brera Academy in Milan, where he presented "Interior of a Sacristy", the beginning of his fascination with depicting interior scenes.

In 1847, he and Erminio Fanti (1821-1888), a former classmate from the Academy, tied for first prize at the "Gran Premio annuale di Paese".

At the front, he wrote to Paolo Toschi, Director of the Academy in Parma, hoping to get a recommendation that would enable him to become an official battle painter, but the war ended before this was accomplished.

It was then that his former teacher, Boccaccio, died and he was able to obtain the appointment to replace him, so he went back to Parma and remained in that position for ten years.

His interior painting of the sacristy at the church of San Giovanni Evangelista received the only prize awarded to an artist from Parma.