Mario Mafai was born in 1902 in Italy. His father was a notary and his mother ran the "Salus" pension in Piazza Indipendenza. The young Mafai abandoned his regular studies around 1917 to devote himself to painting. In 1924 he made friends with Gino Bonichi (Scipione) and together they attended the free school of the nude at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1925 Mario joined Antonietta Raphaël recently arrived from Paris, with whom he had three daughters, Miriam (1926), Simona (1928) and Giulia (1930). In 1927 Mafai and Antonietta went to live in the house-studio in Via Cavour, also frequented by Scipione and Mazzacurati. In the same year Mafai made his debut in the "Exhibition of studies and sketches" organized by the National Artistic L. de Libero, "Mafai", Rome 1949; Mario Mafai, V. Martinelli, "Mafai", Rome 1967; Catalog of the Mario Mafai exhibition, edited by G. Sangiorgi and J.Recupero, Rome 1969; "The painting of Mafai", R. De Grada, Milan 1969; M.Mafai, "Diary 1926-65", edited by G. Appella, Rome 1984; Catalog of the Mario Mafai 1902-1965 exhibition, edited by F. D'Amico, G. Appella, F. Gualdoni cat. exhibition, Palazzo Ricci and Municipal Art Gallery, Macerata 1986; M. Fagiolo Dell'Arco, V. Rivosecchi, "Mafai", Rome 1986; Catalog of the exhibition I fiori di Mafai, edited by M.Fagiolo Dell'Arco, Rome 1989; Catalog of the exhibition "I Mafai - Parallel Lives", edited by M. Fagiolo dell’Arco, critical apparatus F. R. Morelli Rome 1994....