Leonardo Scarpelli

Painting in stone

• Commesso fiorentino is a form of mosaic with semi-precious stones
• Fewer than ten artisans in the world master this technique perfectly
• Leonardo followed his father into this Florentine craft

The sound of a bow saw cutting stone was the music that accompanied Leonardo Scarpelli’s childhood. In fact, he was born into the workshop, where he spent years running after his father Renzo, a real master in the art of commesso fiorentino. “They used to tell me off all the time, because they said I was bothering everyone. In reality, I had already understood that it was the world I wanted to live in.” However, at the beginning, Renzo wasn’t at all persuaded of his son’s choice and tried to put him off in every way. “He thought that I wanted to follow in his footsteps just because it was the easiest road, and not because it was my true passion.”

Interview

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©Guido Cozzi

How did you convince him?

Working at night. I wanted to prove to him that I believed in what I was doing. I worked on the portrait of a boy, one of the most difficult things to do because of the many colours you have to create for the face. The smile on my father’s face when he saw the final product told me I had succeeded.

What aspect of your work fascinates you the most?

The research and selection of the stones. My father and I look for them in the woods that surround Florence, walking along the banks of the Arno river to find new colours. In our workshop I spend hours selecting the right shades for the paintings I want to create.

How is your craft inextricably linked to Florence?

The Medici family originally asked a group of artisan-artists to produce stone paintings. Since then, this technique has faced changing fortunes, also due to the cost of raw materials and labour. Today, fewer than ten artisans can boast the title of master.

How do you manage to update such a traditional craft?

That’s something you can’t do with the technique, which cannot be modified. Although our clients love classical paintings, Florence’s landscapes and views in particular, I try to push myself towards contemporary art and more abstract designs.

Leonardo Scarpelli is a master artisan: he began his career in 1992 and he started teaching in 2010

Works

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Where