Born into a family of Dalmatian heritage, Leopoldo Metlicovitz began his artistic career as an apprentice lithographer in Udine, a city in north-eastern Italy, before completing his training in Milan.

Working initially with Tensi and then moving on to Cast Ricordi publishing house, who specialised in opera and classical music publishing, Leopoldo artistically evolved from transposing the poster work of others, to creating his own designs.

Leopoldo worked with Cash Ricordi until 1938 and died, five years later, in 1943, breathing his last in Ponte Lambro, located around forty kilometres from Milan.