He was born in Rimini, and initially apprenticed there with
Giuseppe Soleri, but by the age of twenty he became a pupil of
Domenico Corvi in Rome. After five years with Corvi, he returned to Rimini where he painted in oil,
tempera and
fresco for many of the prominent families such as the Battaglini, Garampi, Ganganelli, and Spina. In 1799, he was elected professor of design at the Lyceum of Rimini. Between 1803 and 1806, he was professor of painting at the
Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, after which he moved to Padua. In 1810, he returned to Bologna as professor. His paintings generally depicted Greco-Roman classic themes or historic subjects. Among his major works were hagiographic paintings such as those with
Napoleon as the subject, as well as the
Death of Dido, the
Death of Cato, and the
Recognition of Achilles. He died in Bologna. He wrote a few treatises including ''Teorie dell'arte pittorica
and a Riposta a sei lettere anonime''. The latter was a response to criticisms of the academy and his paintings. In addition he wrote extensive assessments of the art of his day. ==Sources==