Federico Andreotti

Federico Andreotti began his artistic training under the guidance of Angiolo Tricca, before enrolling at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence in 1861. There, he studied under the direction of Enrico Pollastrini and Stefano Ussi, initially focusing on historical painting. Ussi, in particular, had a significant influence on Andreotti’s early work. One of Andreotti’s notable early commissions was a historical painting requested by the King, *Savonarola Scaccia dalla sua Cella i Sicari Inviati dalla Bentivoglio*. This work, inspired by the stories of Villani, earned both praise and criticism. While it was appreciated for its ambition, the painting also attracted harsh criticism from the prominent critic Telemaco Signorini, who accused Andreotti of creating a scene that was overly complex and lacking in verisimilitude, suggesting that it failed to convincingly represent the historical moment.