Early Life, Family and Training In the city of Venice, where the light dances upon the canals, Francesco Hayez entered the world on February 10, 1791. He was the youngest of five sons born to a family of modest means. His father, Giovanni, carried the blood of France, while his mother, Chiara Torcella, was a daughter of Murano. Even as a child, it was evident that the boy possessed a natural inclination toward drawing, a gift that wou…