As a young man, he studied painting and design in Bologna under Gaetano Gandolfi, and briefly in Modena under Giuseppe Maria Soli.
While wishing to travel to Florence and Rome to continue his craft, his circumstances forced him to seek work in Reggio by 1790.
After the revolutionary French armies arrived to Reggio in July 1796, he joined the newly formed National Guard.
When there was a renewed occupation by French army, he regained military honors.
However, his patriotic ideals clashed with Napoleonic ambitions, and he left the command of the National Guard.