The Piccirilli Factor presents the lives and contributions of the Piccirilli family, Italian sculptors who, after settling in New York City in 1888, founded the largest and most prolific marble carving studio in America. For nearly half a century, the Piccirilli contributed to the City Beautiful Movement, shaping the architectural landscapes of Washington and New York in collaboration with leading architects and sculptors. Their body of work, encompassing both collaborative and individual pieces, includes nearly nine hundred monuments, memorials, and fine artworks, many of which are preserved in museums and private collections. Unfortunately, all records related to their practice were lost following World War II, after the studio closed due to the deaths of Attilio and Getulio Piccirilli.

The Piccirilli Factor, traces the journey of these italian artisans drawing on client records, newspaper articles, and the support of distinguished art critics and curators from The Metropolitan Museum of Art and other prestigious institutions to reconstruct their path. Montes-Bradley meticulously documents the Piccirilli family's contributions to public art, focusing on the individual achievements of two of the six brothers: Furio and Attilio. The film spans key historical moments, from the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 to the Spanish-American War, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the challenging years for the Italian-American community during World War II.​​ 60 minutes | 2025

​

 A film made possible with the support of the

COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION

​

Executive Producers

Lisa ACKERMAN

Eduardo MONTES-BRADLEY

Jeffrey PLANK  Joel ROSENKRANTZ Thayer TOLLES John BELARDO

Michele BOGART  Joseph SCIORRA William SHERMAN 

Michele KOHEN Susan OLSEN and  Joseph D’ORONZIO

​

Significant support for this film has come from

THE MORRIS AND ALMA SCHAPIRO FUND 

​

Written, Edited, and Directed by

Eduardo MONTES-BRADLEY