While Fattori was a guest on Prince Tommaso Corsini’s estate, La Marsiliana, in the Maremma, he discovered the butteri, Maremman cowboys, of whom he made various studies.  In those years, he also created his first important engravings (in 1884, Cromo-Lito Pistoiese printed an edition with twenty lithographs), among which is one inspired by his Cavalry Charge painting.

In 1885, he began a relationship with Marianna Bigazzi, a widow; they were married six years later.  The following year, the Academy of Florence gave him the chair of Professor of the specialization courses.  These recognitions were not enough to reward the new creative stimuli, causing a growing desire in Fattori to withdraw into himself. 

In 1887, the world of the butteri debuted at the Venice National Exhibition with three paintings:  Repose, Branding of the Colts and The Sheep Jump.  In 1889, Fattori exhibited some etchings at the First Fine Arts Exposition in Bologna.  For the occasion, the local Academy named him an honorary member.  In 1890, he received special mention at the World’s Fair in Paris and a gold medal at the international exhibition in Cologne.