He was born in Bagheria in the province of Palermo, in 1912. From an early age he nurtured a great love for painting and in 1928 he made his debut at the Mostra Sindacale siciliana. After graduating from classical studies, he enrolled in the Faculty of Law, which he abandoned to devote himself to painting. He exhibited at the I Quadriennale Nazionale romana in 1931.