 At the end of the decade he moved on from his academic training and devoted himself to painting from life, during numerous travels in the regions of southern Italy.He also tried his hand at history painting and presented scenes from the struggle for national liberation in Florence at the Esposizione Nazionale di Firenze of 1861.A leading figure in Neapolitan cultural life, Mancini became a member of the Società Promotrice di Belle Arti there in 1862 and was a regular participant in its exhibitions.