Serafino De Tivoli

After initial study of literature at a religious private school he attended with his younger brother Felice, he began his artistic training under Carlo Markò the Elder.

In 1848, he fought as a Tuscan volunteer for Garibaldi in the Risorgimento, fighting in Curtatone and contributing in 1849 to the defense of the Roman Republic.

Returned to Florence after completion of his military duties, he was one of the first who started frequenting the Caffè Michelangiolo, where he quickly became a regular and spent hours discussing political and art topics with other artists, especially those who would later become known as the Macchiaioli.

Upon his return to Florence he conveyed this new enthusiasm to his friends at the Caffè Michelangiolo, who quickly adopted and elaborated his ideas, and with whom he essentially started the Macchiaioli's movement.

He also associated with Giovanni Boldini, Giuseppe De Nittis, Federico Zandomeneghi, Cristiano Banti, and his friend Vito D'Ancona, who had already moved to Paris in 1867.