Carpi studied at the Brera Academy in Milan from 1906 to 1910, where he associated with Emilio Gola, Medardo Rosso and Leonardo Bistolfi. He presented a Symbolist work at the Venice Biennale (11th Esposizione Internazionale d’Arte di Venezia) in 1914 and left to serve as a volunteer in World War I the following year. His involvement with the Novecento Italiano movement in the 1920s included various shows at the Galleria Pesaro and participation in the group’s first exhibition in 1926. He focused above all on the representation of nature in works of ever-greater solidity and taught three generations of artists at the Brera Academy from 1930 to 1958. A solo show of his work was held in 1941 by the Società per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente. Accused of anti-Fascist tendencies, he was sent to the Gusen concentration camp in 1944. The honours received in the 1950s and 1960s include membership of the Academy of San Luca.