He was born in Rome in 1859 from David Toscani (a professor of Forensic Law and dean of the School of Medicine of the University of Rome La Sapienza) and Augusta Leonini-Pignotti (a noblewoman).
He undertook a career as a diplomat and later in life traveled to Tunisia, Turkey and to Egypt where he served as Consul General in representation of the Kingdom of Italy.
[2][3] He was a painter who focused primarily on battle scenes, and paintings of orientalist themes.
Among other military themed paintings: In Marcia; L'Alt, and Le Grandi Manovre.
[4] He was also a writer and intellectual figure, whose writings included short stories, poems, and critical essays.