In 1847 Charles Francis Fuller (age 17) joined the army, first with the 14th Foots and afterwards the 12th Lancers. In 1853 he resigned from the British army and traveled to Florence, where he studied with the American sculptor Hiram Powers; the only pupil Powers consented to accept. The London Art Journal reported that he made such progress under Powers that, "in a comparatively short space of time his own studio was much frequented by the English, who took an interest in his works." Fuller maintained his ties to England by exhibiting his works at the Royal Academy, but, like Powers and a group of other American and British expatriate sculptors, made Florence his home living at Casa Frescobaldi, Via Santo Spirito.

In 1862 George John Browne 3rd Marquess of Sligo (age 41) purchased "A Life-Size Marble Figure Of 'Rhodopis', On Plinth" from Charles Francis Fuller (age 32).

In 1869 Charles Francis Fuller (age 39), Thomas Ball and Hiram Powers bought a triangular plot of about an acre between the Via Dante da Castiglione and the Via Farinatadegli Uberti, where they all built villas around a single landscaped park.