He was born to a painter Lazzarino di Luporo, who had been exiled from Lucca due to his Guelf leanings after the ascension of Uguccione della Faggiuola.
The father of Paolo traveled to Siena and later Florence, where his son learned painting.
In 1340, Paolo was inscribed as one of the foreigners practicing art in Florence.
Cecco di Pietro and Francesco Cristofori may have been one of his pupils.
This article about an Italian painter born in the 14th century is a stub.