Born in Leghorn, cousin of the brothers Angiolo and Ludovico Tommasi, Adolfo Tommasi studied at the Accademia di Firenze under the guidance of Carlo Markò junior and in 1876 showed his painting Ingresso al castello di Signa (Entrance to Signa Castle) at the "Promotrice".

At the end of the 70's, at the Tommasi's estate at Bellariva, he got to know Silvestro Lega, who was "responsible" for making his painting become more naturalistic. He continued to paint from life, and in Turin in 1880 showed Dopo la brina (After the Frost), that provoked both criticism and praise because its subject matter was unusual. Later, he regularly exhibited rural subjects at the "Promotrice" exhibitions: La...