In the late 1780s Righetti studied in Rome with the leading Roman goldsmith Luigi Valadier. He later started his own foundry producing a wide variety of Grand tour bronzes that was very much in demand. Righetti soon became a leading figure in his trade and produced many bronzes for foreign collectors, very often not signed. His clientele included, Pope Pius VII, Catharine II Empress of Russia and Price Eeugene de Beauharnais to mention a few.