Angela Caròla – Perrotti is the winner of the 17th edition of the Tommaso and Laura Leonetti Award “A Commitment to Naples”, the prestigious event which took place in the magnificent setting of the Diego Aragona Pignatelli Cortes Museum. A press release announces this. The important recognition was attributed to the scholar by the Scientific Committee with the following motivation: “For having dedicated her studies to porcelain and in particular to the Charles of Bourbon Factory in Capodimonte and the Royal Fabbrica Ferdinandea, for having taken care of its scientific reorganization and, through meticulous and unpublished research on documents from public and private archives, to have renewed its history. She is the author of innovative monographs on Neapolitan production from the 18th to the 20th century.
Over 400 people took part in the ceremony, together with the Leonetti family, also present was the president of the Campania Region Vincenzo De Luca, who, complimenting the institution of the Award, underlined its value even more, highlighting how the initiative established almost 40 years ago and which values those who have given their commitment to the city and therefore to Campania, underlines how Italy cannot ignore Naples and how Italian culture is full of Neapolitan history, art, philosophy and political thought.
“I am really pleased to receive this recognition – says Angela Caròla – Perrotti – which comes in a completely unexpected way for me and for which I warmly thank the entire Leonetti family. I have always conducted my work guided by passion, so we can say that it was born, in fact after an initial phase of general training I found myself talking and writing about ceramics, discovering that I was the first to do so, at that time in the years 1970s, very few studies and in-depth studies were conducted on Neapolitan porcelain. This allowed me to come into contact with great collectors and lovers of ceramic art such as De Ciccio and Tommaso Leonetti himself who contacted me for my advice, and all this makes it even more special to now receive this award established by him”.
A great celebration in the name of culture which did not lack the support and attention of great personalities such as Sylvain Bellenger, former director of Capodimonte who recalled in a note sent specifically for the event: “Almost three years ago I Angela was entrusted with the task of conceiving the scientific interpretation, as they say in the jargon of art history, but in reality it is the telling of a story, that of the Capodimonte porcelain collection. I sincerely hope that the great project of the 10 porcelain cabinets that we imagined together with the great Federico Forquet will come true. Angela deserves it, Capodimonte deserves it and above all Naples deserves it! Congratulations Angela, may our history be like porcelain, “le souvenir fragile d’une amitié durable! “
The prize, an 18th century manufacture, was awarded by President Raffaele Leonetti di Santo Janni, following the interventions of Maria Rosaria de Divitiis, former director of the State Archives of Naples, of the teacher and art historian Isabella Valente and Luisa Ambrosio, former director of the Duca di Martina Museum moderated by the director Maria Grazia Leonetti Rodinò di Migliore. The Leonetti Award has been held every two years for 38 years, a love story for Naples, an initiative born with the aim of celebrating personalities who have contributed to the knowledge and valorisation of the artistic, cultural and scientific heritage of Naples in the world. Thanks to the Leonetti Prize and the family’s commitment to the city, Naples places itself on a par with other large Italian cities, which recognize the value of the excellence of their territory and of the entire region.
Established in 1986 by Laura Leonetti Caravita of Sirignano in memory of her husband Tommaso Leonetti, Count of Santo Janni (Naples 1910-1975) and of her tireless commitment to Naples, it intends to recognize and give prominence to those personalities who with their activity have contributed to the knowledge and valorization of the artistic, scientific and cultural heritage of the city of Naples. Tommaso Leonetti, a great lover of art and culture, has made great and tireless commitment to his city. He was Knight of the Grand Cross of Merit of the Republic, Knight of Labour, President of the Autonomous Healthcare, Living and Tourism Company of Naples, Superintendent of the Pio Monte della Misericordia, President of the Filippo Palizzi Art Institute, of the Correale Museum of Terranova di Sorrento, of the Automobil Club of Naples, Vice President of the San Carlo Theater Autonomous Body and other prestigious institutions, including President of Calcio Napoli, as well as Gold Medal for cultural and tourist merit.
Laura Caravita from Sirignano (Naples 1909-2005), from a noble and ancient Neapolitan family, married Tommaso Leonetti in 1932. Together they share a solid passion for art, history and the artistic and cultural traditions of their city. Passionate about painting, to which she dedicates herself with marked sensitivity and expertise, she exhibits in numerous national exhibitions and is also committed to writing, publishing four books: “La nostra casa”, “I Caravita Patrizi Napoletani”, “La Famiglia Leonetti, historical notes” and finally “A Friendly Prince”, dedicated to his father, the Senator of the Kingdom, Giuseppe Caravita of Sirignano, founder of the Polytechnic Artistic Club in 1888.
