Ferrara, 1885 - Roma, 1958
Melli approaches painting and sculpture by attending the studios of painter Nicola Laurenti and Minerbi, the sculptor in Ferrara. He devotes himself prevalently to sculpture, in Genova, from 1902 onwards.
He makes a move to Rome in 1911 where he in one of the promoters of the Roman Session. Together with Mario Broglio he creates the magazine "Valori Plastici" ( Plastic Values ) in 1918; writing articles for it. In 1921 he takes part in a travelling exhibition and although he prefers to devote himself to painting after the exhibition he also makes two experiences in the cinema.
Around the thirties he approaches the Roman artistic environment, becoming friends with Mafai and Guttuso, devoting himself to creating advertising poster and working art criticisms. During the second world war, because of the racial laws enacted, he was forced to a period of inactivity and it is only in the period following the war he takes up exhibiting again, teaching also at the Academy of Art in Rome. In 1948 he set up a foundation of solidarity for artists with the intention of improving their living and working conditions.
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