Italian painter and printmaker. He received his
earliest training from his father, the painter Antonio Boldini (1799–1872). From 1858 he may have attended courses
given by Girolamo Domenichini (1813–91) and Giovanni
Pagliarini (?1809–78) at the Civico Ateneo di Palazzo dei
Diamanti, where he assiduously copied Old Masters. At 18 he
was already known in Ferrara as an accomplished portrait
painter. In 1862 he went to Florence, where he sporadically
attended the Scuola del Nudo at the Accademia di Belle Arti.
He frequented the Caffè Michelangiolo, a meeting-place of
progressive artists, where he came into contact with the
MACCHIAIOLI group of artists.
