Technical and Nautical Institutes of Livorno Medal

Abstract

Artist Biography: Luigi Gori (1838-ca.1921) was a Florentine medalist and coin engraver trained at the Accademia. He took part in making two Michelangelo medals issued during the celebrations of 1875. See those entries separately. This medal is known in silver and bronze.

General Description: This medal was minted for the Istituti Tecnico e Nautico di Livorno (The Technical and Nautical Institutes of Livorno). Founded as a nautical school in 1766 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopold di Lorena, it became a technical institute in 1863 by royal decree. The school issued a medal, designed by Luigi Gori, featuring the images of Michelangelo and Christopher Columbus, in 1870, thus joining two Italians celebrated for artistic and nautical achievements, respectively. They are both easily recognizable from similar portraits, despite lack of an identifying legend. The obverse indicates that the medal was made by Luigi Gori in Florence. The reverse joins past, present, and future accomplishment by saying “To the most worthy, because the triumph of the first age will comfort you in the praiseworthy endeavors to come.”

Obverse Description: The Obverse bears left-side portraits of Michelangelo and Christopher Columbus with the former in the front. Underneath the portraits is "LUIGI GORI INC. IN FIRENZE" inscribed.

Reverse Description: The Reverse bears text in a circle reading "AI PIU DEGNI/ PERCHE'/ I TRIONFI DELLA PRIMA ETA'/ LI CONFORTINO/ ALLE IMPRESE LODATE/ DELL' AVVENIRE" which translates to "AT THE MOST DEGREE/ WHY/ THE TRIUMPHS OF THE FIRST AGE/ LI CONFORTINO/ TO THE COMPANIES LODATE/ OF THE EVENT". Surrounding this text is inscribed "'RR. ISTITUTI TECNICO E NAUTICO DI LIVORNO".

Historical Context: