At the start of his studies, Gelati was especially interested in literature. Subsequently supported by the teachings of Carlo Markò, he became attracted to painting; he focused primarily on plein-air landscape painting. His views of the Valdarno region, the Sienese countryside, and the Versilian coastline come from this period.

In the years around 1850, he often went to the Caffè Michelangelo in Florence, and at the end of 1851, he painted two murals in the "artists" rooms: "Tramonto" (Sunset) and "Ruderi con la luna" (Ruins with moon). Gelati felt the Macchiaioli influence deeply, even though he wasn't part of the movement itself: in fact, some of his works have been erroneously attributed to Odoardo Borrani, as ...