A cartographer and naturalist, he learned the elementary principles of science as a child from the parish priest of Sospirolo, Don Antonio Bagini. From 1818, he joined a series of archaeological expeditions to Egypt, thus also becoming an Egyptologist and, in particular, an expert in mummification techniques. On returning from Egypt, he moved to Florence, where he devised a special “mineralisation" technique, improperly referred to as “petrification”. Segato would apply this technique to dozens of specimens, especially human body parts. Various “petrified” remains are still perfectly preserved at Florence university. Segato’s process is notable for how the original colours and the texture of the treated elements are conserved. He used this method to create the surface of the table that can be seen in the Summer Room in the historic apartments of Caserta Palace. His singular technique earned him the soubriquet “the Petrifier”.