Giandomenico de Marchis attended art school in Torino. During World War I, he served as an infantry officer in Libya, which was occupied by Italy. He then worked as a sports teacher at the Military Academy of the Foreign Ministry in Roma, but in 1935 turned to sculpture. For a short time, he travelled in London, then Spain, before returning to Roma. In 1947 he emigrated to Brazil. He was known for his medals and coin creations. His sculptures mostly showed the moving human body and served the Fascist understanding of art. His unusual portrayal of the Salto con l’asta (Pole vault) divided the jump into three phases. Apparently the jury considered such a presentation to be too modern.