Interior with Mandolin (c.1930)

Sardinian-born Menzio studied at the Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti in Turin before, in 1918, being among the last young men drafted into combat, the so-called ‘Ragazzi del 99.’ After the fighting, he returned to his art – being invited to show at the Venice Biennale throughout the late 20s and early 30s. In 1941, he won the prestigious Premio Bergamoaward with the painting La Famiglia. Menzio remained a national artistic figure throughout his life.  In 1951, he was awarded the Prize of the Italian Republic given personally by the President of the Italian Republic and his friend, Luigi Einaudi. In 1960 he was elected National Academician by the Accademia Nationale del San Luca in Rome.

Menzio’s work has been offered at auction multiple times, the record price being 23,167 USD for Ragazza con Vasso di Fiori Ca sold at Farsetti in 2022.