Bardini prima di Bardini La formazione e gli esordi artistici del ‘Principe degli antiquari’

Before becoming the famous antiquarian of Renaissance Art, Stefano Bardini (1836-1922) was a painter. He moved to Florence from Pieve di Santo Stefano (Arezzo) in 1853 to study at the Academy of Fine Arts with Giuseppe Bezzuoli, Benedetto Servolini and Antonio Puccinelli. In his early years, Bardini participated in several competitions with paintings of Florentine Renaissance subjects . He also exposed his works to the Promotrice in Florence and Turin was awarded at the Ricasoli Competition in 1859-1860. Towards the end of the Sixties, Bardini interrupted his artistic career. He enlisted in Garibaldi’s Army and, back in Florence, began restoring and selling old master's art. He thus became the well-known 'Prince of Antiquaries'.