Leonardo da Vinci Art School
The Leonardo da Vinci Art School (the "Leonardo") was an art school founded in New York City (1923–1942), whose most famous students were Isamu Noguchi and Elaine de Kooning, the school's director was sculptor and poet Onorio Ruotolo.
Leonardo da Vinci Art School
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- Leonardo da Vinci Art School
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Leonardo da Vinci Art School • Location — 288 East 10th Street, New York City, NY • Country — United States of America • Type — Art school • Opened — December 1923 • Closed — April 28, 1942 • Principal — Onorio Ruotolo
First decade
First decade
With sculptor Attilio Piccirilli, Ruotolo founded the school to provide low-cost, often free art instruction to the working poor, mostly in the evening. The school was first located at St. Nicholas of Myra, Christian Orthodox Church, 288 East 10th Street, off Avenue A and near Tompkins Square Park. Tuition was six dollars ($6) per month—or free. Students in the 1920s included Noguchi and Esther Shemitz. To foster Noguchi's decision to study sculpture, Ruotolo offered him a job that paid as much as other work he had. Later, Noguchi recalled, "How could I resist? I became a sculptor, even against my will." After only three months at the "Leonardo" (as the school was known), Noguchi held a solo exhibition. Ruotolo also helped Noguchi get commissions for outside sculpture work.
Second decade
Second decade
In 1934, the school reorganized and reopened at 149 East 34th Street, graced by "The New Deal" mural of Conrad Albrizio. With political and union backing, the school expanded to include the "Friends of Italian Arts Association," eliminating tuition altogether, so that student needed provide only their own art materials. No employees received payment for their services. For the school's rededication, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia unveiled a fresco symbolic of the New Deal.
Closure
Closure
Contributions diminished significantly during World War II, leading to the Leonardo's closture at its third and final location at 130 East 16th Street on April 28, 1942.
Instructors
Instructors
• Attilio Piccirilli Co-founder • Onorio Ruotolo Co-founder, Director • John Sennhauser • Alfredo Mussela • Nicholas Volpe • Rosario Gerbino, (Still Life) • Cesare Stea (From 1935-1938) • Aldo Lazzarini (Italian Muralist) • Michele Falanga Co-Founder, Director.
Alumni
Alumni
• Peter Agostini • Nicolas Carone • Angelo Ippolito • Elaine de Kooning • Isamu Noguchi • Esther Shemitz • Joe De Santis • Vincent La Gambina • José Greco • Santí Marino
Associated art
Associated art
• "The New Deal" by Conrad A. Albrizio (1934), placed in the Auditoriom of the Leonardo da Vinci Art School at 149 East 34th Street, NYC • "Cantus" by Onorio Ruotolo (1933) • Depression Art Gallery
Legacy
In addition to starting the career of Noguchi, the Leonardo also was the only school in its time to teach the art of fresco painting.
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People and holdings
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Studied at
2- Esther ShemitzArtist
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
- Giorgina ReidPhotographer
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Leonardo da Vinci Art School, revision 1374820426 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Sciorra, Joseph. Onorio Ruotolo: A Life in Art and Politics. America and Italia Review. Italian American Museum. 2–4. April 2004.
- 2.Herrera, Hayden. Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 68–71. 21 April 2015. 9780374712969.
- 3.Lumpkin, Grace. To Make My Bread. University of Illinois Press. ix. 1932. 9780252065019.
- 4.National Archives. Paintings: Murals: Conrad A. Albrizio: titled "The New Deal".
- 5.Miller, Robin. Baton Rouge now home to second historic Conrad Albrizio mosaic — this one saved from demolition in Algiers. The Advocate. 21 September 2015.
- 6.KnowLA. Conrad Albrizio.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 26 September 2026.
Elsewhere in General
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