The following information was submitted in July of 2006 by Russo Antiques:

Anthony Leonardi was born in 1932 Brooklyn, NY and died in 2004 Long Island, New York

At the very young age of 15 he won second prize in the cartoon category.  The exhibition was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, by the League of Nations Associations.  Leonardi was very prolific in his works; he worked in many mediums including oil, watercolor, pastel and pen and ink.  He was well known for his illustrations and works for the Dutch Boy paint ads.  As a matter of fact, his son was the model for the paint cans. 

A. Leonardi was a student of Charles Courtney Curran at the Pratt Institute.  He was a member of the Society of Illustrators.  Until the time of his passing all of his works were with the family.