Leonardo (Italian magazine)

Leonardo

Editor	Giovanni Papini
Categories	Philosophy magazine Literary magazine
Frequency	Irregular
Founder	Giovanni Papini
Year founded	1903
First issue	January 1903
Final issue	1907
Country	Italy
Based in	Florence
Language	Italian

Leonardo was an Italian philosophy magazine published in the early twentieth century in Florence, Italy, between 1903 and 1907. It was one of the publications started by Giovanni Papini and contributed by Giuseppe Prezzolini. The magazine is also one of the periodicals which contributed to the cultural basis of the early forms of Fascism.

History and profile

Leonardo was started in Florence in January 1903. One of the founders was Giovanni Papini who also edited the magazine which was published irregularly. Significant contributors included Giuseppe Prezzolini, Mario Calderoni, Giuseppe Antonio Borgese, Emilio Cecchi and Giovanni Amendola who also financed the magazine which featured articles on philosophical reviews and also, on literature and arts. The front page of the first issue contained a synthetic program which indicated the stance of the contributors, namely personalism and idealism, suggesting that they regarded themselves as being superior to any system and to every limit. In addition, the magazine frequently covered articles criticising positivism, particularly during the early years, which were not constructive. Official philosophical stance of the magazine appeared to be pragmatism at the end of the first year of existence.

Leonardo was closed by Giovanni Papini and Giuseppe Prezzolini in 1907 due to the fact that it was becoming a commercial and mainstream publication because of its popularity and success.