[1][2] With sculptor Attilio Piccirilli, Ruotolo founded the school to provide low-cost, often free art instruction to the working poor, mostly in the evening.

The school was first located at St. Nicholas of Myra, Christian Orthodox Church, 288 East 10th Street, off Avenue A and near Tompkins Square Park.

[2][3] To foster Noguchi's decision to study sculpture, Ruotolo offered him a job that paid as much as other work he had.

[1] Contributions diminished significantly during World War II, leading to the Leonardo's closture at its third and final location at 130 East 16th Street on April 28, 1942.

[1] In addition to starting the career of Noguchi, the Leonardo also was the only school in its time to teach the art of fresco painting.