Born in Treviso in 1879 to Venetian parents and died in 1930, Giovanni Apollonio represents a fundamental point of transition in Treviso painting from the end of the 19th century to the first decades of the 20th century.
His training took place in contact with the environment in Venice, where he attended the Academy of Fine Arts under the guidance of Luigi Nono - a painter committed to social denunciation - and Guglielmo Ciardi.
From the very beginning, Apollonio showed an incredible ability to capture the real world with his vivid colours and free brushstrokes that brought his subjects to life. Furthermore, influenced by other artists and a study trip to Paris, Apollonio absorbed the techniques of the French Impressionists.
The paintings painted in his youth were distinguished by a mixture of Serena's style with a traditional artistic climate. The first of the paintings was made shortly before he finished his studies at the Academy and returned to Treviso, and is probably a reminder of the Felissent family, with whom the artist was in contact.

Before the First World War, Apollonio broke with local tradition and together with other artists created the group “i Capesarini”. Their mission was to renew their art with European influences, thanks to their experiences abroad. Although he was part of this environment, Apollonio was derided by the artistic avant-garde in Treviso for his style, which was considered too simple and retro. However, he remained faithful to his way of making art, embodying the role of a fashionable, worldly painter, without ever confronting the innovative languages of Rossi and Martini.
Apollonio often devoted himself to portraiture, with remarkable results. In 1919 the municipality of Treviso, promoter of celebratory portraits, commissioned him to paint the effigy of the Duke of Aosta.
Apollonio and other local artists were trained with the masters of the “old guard”, who had a strong influence on portraiture in Treviso
His death marked the end of an artistic career that, despite the criticism he received, remained faithful to his realistic style and the local artistic tradition. His works continue to be appreciated and preserved in important museums, helping to keep his artistic legacy alive.