Italian commemorative medal for the 400th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth, 1875

Abstract

General Description: This medal was issued in 1875 for the celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth. Two other medals also relate to this event: the memorial medal by Luigi Gori, and a commemorative medal of Ubaldino Peruzzi (mayor of Florence) credited to Vagnetti and Giambattista Tassara. This medal exists in at least two versions and probably a third (gold). The most common version is bronze and the other is silver plate over a base metal, probably zinc. The present medal is the silvered version and another example is found in the Museo di Torino (Medagliere 1503).

Obverse Description: The obverse bears the right side profile portrait of Michelangelo encircled by the inscirption "MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI," along with an inscription of "GIOV-VAGNETTI-FEEE-IN-FIRENZE" on the bottom.

Reverse Description: The reverse bears a winged figure sitting on a rock, with the inscription "NEL IV CENTENARIO IN FIRENZE 1875" (In Fourth Century Florence 1875), in a landscape setting. The surround features the inscription "L'MI SEPPI LEVAR PER L'AERE A VOLO" (I knew the lead for flight in the air).

Historical Context:

Artist Biography: Vagnetti was born in 1840, the son of a medalist (Francesco Vagnetti) and later fathered another medalist, Italo Vagnetti (1864-1933).

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