Francesco Graziani

An inked inscription verso identifies the sitter as ‘Grazziani’ [sic] of the ‘Théatre Italiens’. This is almost certainly the Italian baritone Francesco Graziani (although there is a small possibility that this is his brother, the tenor Lodovico Graziani.)

Francesco Graziani was born at Fermo (Marche) in Italy on 26 April 1828. He made his début at the Teatro Ascolli, before appearing at Macerata, Chiati, Pisa and Florence. From 1853 he sang with the Théâtre-Italien in Paris, although he also sang in New York and London. Everywhere he appeared, he enjoyed great success. He was the creator of Don Carlo di Vargas in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, first performed in St. Petersburg on 10 November 1862.

He died on 30 June 1901.

Photographed by Disdéri of Paris.