Fausto Zonaro was born in Padua on 18 September 1854. He first trained as an apprentice bricklayer, but he showed a natural talent and passion for painting and left his apprenticeship to attend the Verona Academy of Fine Arts. After completing his military service, he went on to study at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Rome. His first exhibition opened in 1885, was well received, and in 1888 a new exhibition of his work was held in Paris. He worked as both painter and decorator in Venice and Naples over the next two years, receiving commissions from the nobility. He was also awarded a knighthood by the king.

Fausto Zonaro was a key figure among a small but important group of Italian Orientalist painters that included Alberto Pasini, Pompeo Mariani and Amedeo Preziosi. The painter was lured by his own romantic notions of the Orient to visit Constantinople in 1891. The city did not disappoint, for upon his arrival, he was 'awake day and night', eager to capture the daily activities of the people, the hectic market places, the ships and frigates along the Bosphorous, and the unique landscapes from which he could enjoy extensive views of the city.

Zonaro's successes culminated in 1896 when he was appointed chief artist to the Ottoman court by Sultan Abdülhamid II, to whom he had been introduced by the Italian Ambassador Panza. As court painter, Zonaro donned traditional Turkish dress and enjoyed many privileges, including a residence on the Bosphorus. During his tenure, which lasted just over a decade, he created numerous portraits for the Imperial family and many historical paintings and decorations for their various palaces. When, in 1908, the Sultan was unseated and the Second Constitutional Monarchy was declared, Zonaro reluctantly fled Istanbul with his family and returned to Italy around 1910.

The artist subsequently settled in San Remo, where he stayed until his death in 1929.

Source:
Sphinx Fine Art,
http://www.sphinxfineart.com/Zonaro-Fausto-DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=45&tabindex=44&artistid=40766

His work Ingresso della Villa Camerini serves as a pictorial souvenir of Zonaro’s stay at the villa. Count Paolo Camerini (1868-1937), the villa’s owner, became one of Zonaro’s most influential patrons. His enthusiasm and commitment helped to establish Zonaro’s reputation. He assembled a collection of the artist’s paintings, buying the painting O Pazzariello for the considerable sum of £12,000. He also maintained a particularly close personal relationship with the artist.

Count Paolo Camerini’s father, Luigi (1819-1885), was not only a collector of Zonaro’s paintings but also asked him to decorate the salon and theater in the Villa Camerini for which the artist painted around 30 pastels of Neapolitan subjects. They were unfortunately stolen a few years ago. Other works were also painted during Zonaro’s stay at the villa.