Francesco de Rossi grew up in Florence as the son of a weaver. He decided to become a painter at an early age, but remained true to the family tradition and worked as a tapestry designer. He met Giorgio Vasari in the workshop of Baccio Bandinelli, and an enduring friendship developed between them. After further training with Andrea del Sarto he completed his first large commission for Cardinal Giovanni Salviati in Rome at the age of twenty-one. He also adopted the Cardinal’s surname.

In their tight composition and the accentuated movement of their figures, Salviati’s paintings are faithful to the precepts of Mannerism. His portraits are highly regarded for their use of colour and Salviati’s fine eye for observation. His fame reached as far as France, where he also worked for the king for more than a year.