Born in Leghorn into a well-off family, Giovanni Bartolena learned the rudiments of painting from his uncle Cesare, author of battle scenes and portraits. In 1886 he moved to Florence with the intention of continuing his studies under the guidance of Giovanni Fattori, but a busy and expensive social life kept him away from the academic studies.

Only in 1892 he exhibited for the first time at the Promotrice of Turin; in the same period he formed a friendship with Signorini, Lega and other habitués of the Caffè Michelangelo in Florence. In the following years, he sent his works to the Florence expositions, and in 1896 he participated with Cavallo morto (Dead horse) in the First Triennial Art Exposition in Turin. He t...