Leonardo Frigo

Globe maker

©Leonardo Frigo

Bridging the ages with a creative calling

Leonardo evolved his practice from illustrator to globe-maker
He employs traditional globe-making techniques and materials
He handcrafted his Dante globe by studying a 17th-century Venetian manual

Although he only started his career in 2015, Leonardo Frigo has already lived two lives as an artisan. In the first, after graduating in Art Restoration at the Università Internazionale dell’Arte in Venice, he found success in instrument decoration. Leonardo used to illustrate stringed instruments, and created memorable series inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins and The Four Seasons. “I was always fascinated by cartography,” he reveals. His craft took a turn towards globe-making, his second life as an artisan. “Creating globes allows me to combine my love for art, culture and tradition, with the desire to preserve a historical craft.” At Homo Faber 2024, Leonardo captivated visitors as he worked on an over-size globe inspired by Dante Alighieri’s universe, offering a rare insight into the process—from shaping the plaster sphere to hand-printing maps using copper plates.

Interview

©Leonardo Frigo

©Leonardo Frigo

How did you learn this craft?: I began as an apprentice at a renowned atelier in London, but much of what I do today is self-taught. I am inspired by the great globe makers of the past, such as the Venetian Vincenzo Coronelli: I admire their mastery and dedication, which I strive to emulate in my daily work.
What skills are necessary to make a globe?: It is a complex art requiring a combination of artistic and technical skills—from shaping plaster spheres to engraving copper plates and printing with a press. To obtain an authentic, high-quality result, I also make my own glues and varnishes.
Is it important for you to combine tradition and innovation?: Yes, absolutely. While I preserve tradition by using historical techniques and materials, I dedicate a great deal of time to updating maps with new geographical findings. This balance allows me to craft globes that honour the past while remaining relevant today.
What do you enjoy most about your work?: I love the rich tradition that surrounds globe-making and the historical continuity it represents. Every globe I create is both a tribute to the artisans of the past and a bridge to the craftsmanship of the future.

Leonardo Frigo is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2015