Leoncillo (Leoncillo Leonardi), Spoleto 1915-Roma 1968

Published in 1969 by Alfa, this monograph serves as a definitive retrospective on the life and work of Leoncillo Leonardi, a seminal figure in twentieth-century Italian ceramic sculpture. Compiled by the renowned art historian and curator Giovanni Carandente shortly after the artist's untimely death in 1968, the book was intended to preserve the legacy of a creator who bridged the gap between traditional craft and the radical informale movement. Carandente, a lifelong friend and champion of Leoncillo’s work, curated the material to document the sculptor's visceral, gestural approach to clay and his evolution from figurative roots to powerful, abstract expressions.

The design of the volume reflects the scholarly yet respectful tone characteristic of Alfa’s art publications during the period. It draws heavily from the archives of Leoncillo's studio in Rome, presenting a comprehensive survey of his expressive terracotta forms and the intense, often political, climate in which he worked. Upon its release, the book was received as an essential reference for understanding post-war Italian art, praised for its clarity in contextualizing Leoncillo's technical mastery and his unique ability to imbue industrial, earthy materials with profound human emotion.