Levi was born to wealthy Jewish physician Ercole Levi and Annetta Treves, the daughter of Claudio Treves. He studied medicine and graduated from the University of Turin in 1924. He did not, however, practise medicine, choosing instead to become a painter and to pursue his political interests. In 1929, along with Carlo and Nello Rosselli he founded an anti-fascist movement called Giustizia e Libertà, becoming a director of the Italian branch. His anti-fascist activities resulted in his exile (1935–36) to the remote province of Lucania. His experiences there are described in his novel 'Cristo si è fermato a Eboli' (1945), which reflects the visual sensitivity of a painter and the compassionate objectivity of a doctor. Quickly acclaimed a literary masterpiece, the novel was widely translated. After World War II, Carlo Levi continued to write and paint, exhibiting in Europe and the United States. |
