The last descendant of an ancient family that had fallen financially, he lost his father early, and spent "the hottest years of his youth between music, painting, gymnastics, and brilliant readings, without setting himself a career to pursue, a serious goal to achieve" (Pesaro 1878, p. 96). After the death of his mother, he married fellow citizen Ester Finzi, with whom he had three children, and decided to make painting a profession, becoming a good vedutist.

Between 1843 and 1845 he moved to Rome to perfect himself and had contacts with Massimo d 'Azeglio.

During the riots of 1848 "he distinguished himself by his patriotism, and on 19 March 1849 he was elected Municipal Councillor with a good vote" (Pesaro 1878, p. 97).

He was among the illustrators of the volume "Album Estense", by Antonio Frizzi, published in Italian and French by Abram Servadio in 1850.

In the same year he moved with his family to Venice, where he decided to devote himself to photography with remarkable results: at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855 his images of Venice were awarded the bronze medal.

He died in Venice in 1856.

Two of his views are exhibited in the exhibition I Tal Ya': island of the divine dew, two thousand years of Jewish art and life in Italy, curated by Vivian B. Mann, held at Palazzo dei from 18 March to 17 June 1990.