Alberto Magnelli was born on July 1, 1888, in Florence. At the age of 26, Magnelli went to Paris. There he met Pablo Picasso and Fernand Léger, among others, and studied the works of other famous painters. As a painter, Alberto Magnelli was self-taught, later focusing intensively on abstract painting and mastering his style and skills. In 1955 and 1959, Magnelli took part in the documenta in Kassel.
Alberto Magnelli died on April 20, 1971, in Meudon.