Born in Leghorn, Ferruccio Pagni was first instructed in art by Natale Betti at the Scuola Comunale di Disegno, where he went together with Plinio Nomellini and Angiolo Tommasi. He continued his studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze* where, between 1866 and 1871, he studied under Giovanni Fattori who urged him to abandon history painting which he had started with Betti and to try painting from life. He became one of Fattori's favourite pupils and exhibited at the "Promotrice fiorentina" from 1887 to 1889, making his debut in Milan, Venice and Turin in the years that followed.

However, Alfredo Muller's new ideas introduced to Florence when he returned from Paris, led Pagni to move away from Fattori's influence and to...