Painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and illustrator, Mario Vellani Marchi studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Modena, under Giuseppe Graziosi and Pio Semeghini. He exhibited in almost all the Venetian Biennials from 1924 to 1950. He also exhibited many times in the Quadriennale in Rome. Vellani Marchi was one of the founders of the Bagutta literary award and collaborated as illustrator with several newspapers and magazines.