Official commemorative medal issued in Arezzo, Italy, as part of special celebrations on the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth, 1975

Abstract

General Description: This medal was issued in Arezzo, Italy, as part of special celebrations on the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth. In 1975, a special exhibition was mounted of contemporary medals and plaquettes in homage to Michelangelo, with the participation of the Italian mint in Rome. The exhibit was shown in Michelangelo's birthplace of Caprese in the summer of 1975 and opened in Arezzo in September. The exhibit totaled 180 works of art, many of which (though not all) were medals devoted to Michelangelo. This particular medal was the official commemorative issuance of the Aretine Committee for the Honoring of Michelangelo (Comitato Aretino per le Onoranze a Michelangelo). It was created by Bruno Galoppi, listed as one of the executive committee members.

Obverse Description: The obverse features a frontal portrait of Michelangelo against a background showing the house in Caprese where he was born and spent his infancy.

Reverse Description: The reverse bears the final sculpture produced by Michelangelo, an unfinished Pietà (the so-called Rondanini Pietà) on which he was working up until his death in 1564 with the inscription "IL/ COMITATO/ ARETINO / A /MICHELANGELO /1475-1975" (The Arezzo Committeeto Michelangelo) .

Historical Context:

Artist Biography: Bruno Galoppi (1921-1981) was born in Arezzo and was the artistic director of Uno.A.Erre and the Centro Studi Superiori di Oreficeria Gori & Zucchi, which helped to stage the medal exhibit in 1975. He was a widely exhibited artist both in Italy and abroad, especially through jewelry and metal work. He contributed three other works to the Aretine exhibit from which this medal derives.

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