He was born in Rome to Pietro and Maria Agnelletti; his father worked for the Giustiniani family. This helped him access in 1837 to studies at the Accademia San Luca of Rome.
Born in Rome, he came from a family where his father worked for the influential Giustiniani clan. This connection enabled him to enroll in the prestigious Accademia San Luca of Rome in 1837.