He was born in San Matteo della Decima, near Bologna, to a family of painters including Mauro & Ubaldo Gandolfi, and became a "student" at the Accademia Clementina in Bologna, where he was taught by Felice Torelli and Ercole Lelli.
He was born in San Matteo della Decima to a family of painters including Mauro & Ubaldo Gandolfi. This was near Bologna. He became a "student" at the Accademia Clementina in Bologna, where he was taught by Felice Torelli. He became a "student" at the Accademia Clementina in Bologna, where he was taught by Ercole Lelli.