The name of Cristiano Banti was not well known in Prato until the Fifties, although he was previously known by art experts and people who visited galleries specialising in 19th century paintings (such as Nello's Ballerini, in via Luigi Muzzi). Banti lived in the territory of Prato all of his life (until he died in 1904), in the "villa del Barone", in Montemurlo He would often travel into the city centre on horseback. In 1935, a collection of his works was exhibited in an exhibition in the Pretorio Palace "L'arte pratese del Settecento e dell'Ottocento", organised by the Town Hall. Twelve of his works (water colours, engravings and drawings) were taken from the private collection of the lawyer Ciro Cecconi. In 1953, a painting by Banti was shown, again in the Pretorio Palace, in an exhibition organised by the "Associazione Turistica Pratese". This exhibition was called "Pittura dell'800 e del '900 nelle collezioni private pratesi". It was not until 1965, in the exhibition organised by the "Azienda Autonoma di Turismo di Prato" (showing 94 of Banti's more important works, taken from public or private collections), that Cristiano Banti's fame was brought to light, both in and out of Prato. Cristiano Banti was born in Santa Croce sull'Arno, on the 4th of January 1824. He studied in Siena under the tuition of Francesco Nenci, and began his career with a delightful painting, entitled "Galileo dinanzi al tribunale dell'Inquisizione". He was soon acquainted with the artistic school of the "Macchiaioli". Together with Signorini and Bollani, he scientifically studied the colour effects used in the technique of the "macchia" (splashes, spots, marks or patches of colour). He travelled to Paris (in 1861 and in 1875) and to London (in 1879 and 1887), but his paintings always showed their author's personality, and were not being influenced by any trends. His characters had a noble aspect, and his subjects were inspired by the gentle outlook he had on the world and life. He often hosted his colleagues in his villa Occasionally he would buy their work to help them, and so therefore he had quite an important collection (which remains lost today). He died in Montemurlo on the 4th of December 1904. It was said of this painter that "his name is so far away from being a celebrity as his art is far from mediocrity".