Edel was born 15 May 1856 in Colorno, Italy, the son of Giuseppe and Clementina Naudin. His father was an amateur painter, his sister was a professional artist, and the family was descended from the miniaturist and royal painter Giuseppe Naudin (1792–1872). Early on, Edel studied under Pancrazio Soncini and set designer Girolamo Magnani.
