Italian commemorative medal for the 400th anniversary of Michelangelo's death, 1965

Abstract

General Description: Between 1963-1973 the city of Rome commissioned medals annually, issued on the 21st of April, to commemorate and celebrate important events. Each medal had a theme pertaining to the previous year. The medals were curated by Armando Ravaglioli (1918-2009), Italian writer and journalist known for his contributions to the city of Rome. This medal was issued in 1965 to commemorate the 400thanniversary of Michelangelo's death. It is one of the most artistically original medals in the catalogue. The medal was issued by the firm of Stefano Johnson, a private mint based in Milan and specialized in producing medals since the 1830s. This design was issued in 5 examples in gold and several hundred in silver and bronze.

Obverse Description: The obverse features a frontal portrait of Michelangelo as if emerging from the background. It also incorporates the chisel marks that Michelangelo frequently left on his statues and implies that the image is in the process of its creation with the inscription "CENTENARIO DI MICHELANGELO/ MDLXIIII-MDCCCCLXIIII" (Century of Michelangelo 1564-1964)and "S. JOHNSON" on the border edge. In addition On border Pericle Fazzini's, the artist, signature is inscribed on the bottom.

Reverse Description: The reverse shows the coat of arms of the city of Rome which features a shield with SPQR (the senate and people of Rome), a crown above it, and fluttering ribbons at the sides. The legend reads "of Rome 21 April 1965-year 2718."This latter year refers to age of the city of Rome, given its legendary founding on the 21 April 753 BCE. The reverse features the inscription "XXI APRILE MDCCCCLXV ANNO MMDCCXVIII DI ROMA."

Historical Context:

Artist Biography: Italian sculptor, born at Grottamare. Worked as assistant to his father, a craftsman in wood and cabinet maker, but also began to make sculpture in his spare time. He moved in 1929 to Rome to become a sculptor; attended free courses in drawing at the Academy and made his first portrait heads. Fazzini won a national art scholarship in 1932. Most of his early sculptures are wood carvings, with a predilection for windswept, Baroque-like movement and exuberant fantasy. Was encouraged by Arturo Martini, whom he met in 1935. He then taught at the Museo Artistico Industriale, Rome, 1937-52. His first one-man exhibition was at the Galleria La Margherita, Rome, 1943. In the mid 1940s began to make small bronzes of dancers, acrobats, cats, etc. in contorted, rhythmical attitudes, and in 1947 joined the Fronte Nuovo delle Arti. Awarded the City of Venice sculpture prize at the 1954 Venice Biennale. Professor at Florence Academy 1955-9, and at the Academy in Rome 1958. His public commissions include a monument to the Resistance at Ancona made in 1964-5.Fazzini became a well-established Italian artist whose works are found throughout Italy and abroad.

Bibliography: http://www.periclefazzini.it/ http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/archivi/soggetti-produttori/ente/MIDB00184D/ http://www.armandoravaglioli.it/medaglie-comunali.html https://www.moma.org/artists/1821 Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.218