francesco bagnara came from a poor family and began work as a decorative room painter. thanks to the interest of a local noble family (the angarans), he was able to go to venice, where he studied with giuseppe borsato and helped him paint decorations for the teatro la fenice. around 1812, with the financial assistance of the papadopoli family, he was able to open his own studios. his first clients were the teatro san moisè and the teatro san benedetto, and later became the official designer at la fenice. during this period, he designed sets for several now-famous operas by gioachino rossini.