Studied in Pavia with L. Berzolari, E. Pascal and F. Aschieri , and he took there his degree in 1899. Later he studied in Pisa with E. Bertini and L. Bianchi , and he became, again in Pavia an assistent of Berzolari. For 20 years he was a teacher in high school. Finally, in 1926, he became professor of geometry in Cagliari.

He taught in Cagliari till 1928, and after then he went to Pisa (1928-31) and Pavia (1931-52). He was one of the main Italian specialist in real algebraic geometry and wrote also very interesting papers about teaching.

Among his students we mention V. E. Galafassi . He was also a member of the Istituto Lombardo and a correspondent fellow of the Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.

His main commemoration is: V. E. Galafassi, Boll. dell' Unione Mat. Ital. , (3), 14, 1959, 286-294.