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Giovanni Leonardi
'Acrobats at the Circus', Mid 20th Century Vallauris Painting on Ceramic.

1940s

About the Item

Mid 20th Century painting on ceramic of two circus acrobats by Italian artist Giovanni Lombardi. The work is painted on 14 ceramic tiles which have been mounted on board, signed bottom left, in original period oak frame. A wonderful energetic and vibrant work very much in the 1940s 'Modern' style showing a scene of two acrobats practising with a circus tent, carousel, Punch and Judy Show (Guignol) and fairground stands in the background. The artist has managed to capture the athleticism of the male and female performer creating a lovely colourful scene in this most difficult of mediums. Giovanni Leonardi, an artist born in Sicily, on the slopes of Etna, discovered France in 1900 while working with other compatriots on the construction of the Italian pavilion for the Universal Exhibition. He then moved to Montmartre where he rubbed shoulders with the artistic Bohemians of the Belle Epoque and in particular Max Jacob. The Quimper poet wrote a laudatory preface for the catalogue of the exhibition held by the Sicilian at the Paul Guillaume gallery in 1922. He summed up his friend's art in his typically unique style: «Quelle merveille que cette transformation de la douleur humaine en suavité et en grâces!». Ceramist, Leonardi worked in several pottery centres such as Desvres, Aubagne and Vallauris before frequenting the HB pottery factories in Quimper, following an invitation from Max Jacob in 1925: “You must come; you will see my mother, she will love you”. Leonardi then resides regularly in the city and gets closer to the Quimper Areopagus (Augustin Tuset, Jean Lachaud, Nicolas Pesce, Lionel Floch…). Through Max Jacob, the Italian sculptor met Jean Moulin, then sub-prefect at Châteaulin, and introduced him to ceramics by helping him create his Pieta. After the Second World War Leonardi moved south eventually settling in Vallauris and it was here that he was visited by and became close friends of Picasso who was exploring his own Ceramic art journey.
  • Creator:
    Giovanni Leonardi (1876 - 1956, Italian)
  • Creation Year:
    1940s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 32 in (81.28 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Cotignac, FR
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: LG/Leonardi/Acrobats.1stDibs: LU1430211294812

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