Leonardo Sinisgalli
Leonardo Sinisgalli (1908-1981) was an Italian poet and engineer, born in Montemurro, Italy. He demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics and physics, training with notable figures such as Enrico Fermi. However, he ultimately decided to pursue poetry, publishing his first collection, "18 Poesie," in 1936, which garnered critical acclaim. Sinisgalli's work is characterized by a fusion of scientific concepts and poetic expression, often reflecting his Southern Italian upbringing. His poetry is noted for its sensual imagination and emotional distance, relying on precise language rather than ornate adjectives. Throughout his life, he engaged with various disciplines, including advertising and film, and founded the influential periodical "Cività delle Macchine." Although he faced personal challenges, including the prolonged illness of his partner Georgia De Cousandier, he continued to write prolifically, receiving numerous accolades for his work. Sinisgalli's legacy lies in his unique integration of artistic and scientific perspectives, resulting in a distinctive body of poetry that has been praised for its depth and innovation.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Leonardo Sinisgalli
Poet
- Born: March 9, 1908
- Birthplace: Montemurro, Italy
- Died: January 30, 1981
Biography
Leonard Sinisgalli was born in Montemurro, Italy, on March 9, 1908. His parents were Vittorio and Carmela Lacorazza Sinisgalli. His father moved out of Italy twice before returning in 1923 to work as a farmer. Sinisgalli was particularly close to his mother and refers to her in many of his later poems.
Sinisgalli attended local elementary schools, and completed secondary school in Naples in 1926. He showed great promise as a mathematician and physicist. In 1928, Enrico Fermi asked him to become a member of his Physics Research Institute. Sinisgalli chose instead to pursue the life of a poet, although he eventually completed a degree in engineering.
From 1930 to 1932, Sinisgalli trained as an artillery officer in the military. Between 1936 and 1940, he worked in advertising for Olivetti Company. Sinisgalli’s intellectual development during these years was influenced by his reading of poetry, particularly that of Charles-Pierre Baudelaire. In addition, he read both natural science and philosophy, including Galileo, René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, and Arthur Schopenhauer, among others. Sinisgalli published his first book of poetry in 1936, 18 Poesie. The book was well reviewed.
World War II intervened in the young poet’s career, however. He spent the war years in Sardinia, returning to Rome in 1942 where he met Georgia De Cousandier. The two spent the rest of their lives together, although they were only able to marry in 1969 because she was unable to divorce her husband.
In addition to continuing his poetry during the postwar years of 1945 to 1950, Sinisgalli also helped make two award-winning short films. He also wrote a series of theoretical essays on mathematics, science and art. His book Furor Mathematicus compiles the writing of this period.
Between 1952 and 1959, Sinisgalli directed a periodical he founded, Cività delle Macchine. The journal was an important contribution to design arts. In 1959, Sinisgalli became the director of advertising for the Italian national energy council. He never stopped writing poetry, however, and in 1961, his book Cineraccio won the Etna Taorima prize. Sinisgalli’s wife Georgia died in 1978, and after a period of failing health, Sinisgalli died in 1981.
Sinisgalli’s poetry demonstrates both his upbringing in Southern Italy and his devotion to mathematical precision. Critics note his work for its sensual imagination as well as for its emotional distance. Sinisgalli depended on nouns and metaphors rather than on adjectives and flowery language. He often used science as the basis of his poetry. Albert Einstein, Descartes, and Schopenhauer all found their places in his poems.
Sinisgalli’s work was consistently well received; his poetry continued to grow and change over his fifty years as a poet. Although he chose poetry over physics as his life’s work, the inherent tension between artistic and mathematical interpretations of reality resulted in a body of remarkable poems.