Novello's maternal uncle was the painter Giorgio Belloni, who influenced his interest in art and painting. Novello studied law in Pavia but at the end of the First World War he attended the Academy of Brera beginning his career as a painter, draughtsman, illustrator and cartoonist. In the 30s Mondadori published Novello's strips in two celebrated volumes: 'Il Signore di buona famiglia' and 'Che cosa dirà la gente'. From the fifties Novello devoted himself mainly to painting.