Francesco Ballesio
Roman genre and Orientalist painter
Francesco Ballesio was born in Turin, studied at the Accademia Albertina and later moved to Rome. He exhibited at the International Exhibition in Rome in 1883 and throughout his career, his works were sought after by private collectors based in England and the United States. He painted subjects influenced by the Roman artist Bartolommeo Pinelli, in particular characters in pursuit of love in the Roman Campagna. He also produced a number of Orientalist themed works, working in both watercolour and oil.