2709) Luigi Vanvitelli (12.05.1700–01.03.1773), Architect & Painter, Italy: 250th Anniversary of his passing away: Five Euro (Silver) and Twenty Euro (Gold) Coins issued by the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano (IPZS) commemorate the celebrated Baroque Era Architect: Date/Year of Coin issue: 21.02.2023:
The Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano (IPZS) has released 20 Euro Gold and 5 Euro Silver Proof Coins which highlight the works of one of Italy’s most celebrated architects of the Baroque-era on the 250th Anniversary of his passing away.
About Luigi Vanvitell (1700-1773):
Luigi Vanvitelli was born in Naples, the son of an Italian woman, Anna Lorenzani, and a Dutch painter of land and cityscapes (veduta), Caspar van Wittel, who also used the name Vanvitelli.
The most prominent 18th-century architect of Italy, he practised a sober classicising academic Late Baroque style that made an easy transition to Neoclassicism.
He was trained in Rome by the architect Nicola Salvi, with whom he worked on the construction of the Trevi Fountain.
Following his notable successes in the competitions for the facade of the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (1732) and the facade of Palazzo Poli behind the Trevi Fountain, Pope Clement XII sent him to the Marche to build some papal projects.
At Ancona in 1732, he devised the vast Lazaretto, a pentagonal building covering more than 20,000 square meters, built to protect the military defensive authorities from the risk of contagious diseases potentially reaching the town with the ships. Later it was used also as a military hospital or as barracks.
In Rome, Vanvitelli stabilised the dome of St. Peter's Basilica when it developed cracks and found time to paint frescos in a chapel at Sant Cecilia in Trastevere. He also built a bridge over the Calore Irpino in Benevento.
In 1742 Vanvitelli designed (along with Nicola Salvi) the Chapel of St. John the Baptist for King John V of Portugal.
It was built in Rome, disassembled in 1747, and shipped to Lisbon, where it was reassembled in the Church of St. Roch (Igreja de São Roque).
It was completed in 1750, although the mosaics in it were not finished until 1752. Built of many precious marbles and other costly stones, as well as gilt bronze, it was held to be the most expensive chapel in Europe up to that time.
Reggia di Caserta:
Vanvitelli's technical and engineering capabilities, together with his sense of scenographic drama led Carlo VII of Naples (later King Carlos III of Spain) to commission the grand Palace of Caserta, intended as a fresh start for administering the ungovernable Kingdom of Naples.
Charles VII of Naples desired a palace which would rival the Palace of Versailles and therefore commissioned Vanvitelli to create the most beautiful palace in Europe. Of all the royal palaces in the world, Caserta is by far the largest in terms of volume, with more than 2 million m³.
Included in the Reggia di Caserta was the fan-shaped Vigna del Ventaglio vineyard.
Planted on sloping terrain in the San Leucio frazione near the palace, the vineyard was planted in a semicircle design subdivided into 10 segments (or "fan blades") each planted to a different grape variety.
Among the varieties known to have been planted in the Vigna del Ventaglio were native Campanian varieties Pallagrello bianco and Pallagrello nero.
Vanvitelli worked on the project for the rest of his life, for Charles and for his successor Ferdinand IV.
In Naples, he designed the city's royal palace (1753) and some aristocratic palaces, and churches such as the new church and monastery for the Missione ai Vergini.
His engineering talents were exercised as well - for Caserta, he devised the great aqueduct system that brought water to run the cascades and fountains.
Luigi Vanvitelli passed away at Caserta in 1773.
The Commemorative Coins:
The Header/Banner showcases the Obverse and Reverse of the 5.00 € (Five Euro) Silver Coins and 20 Euro Gold Coins issued on the 250th Anniversary of Luigi Vanvitelli's passing away against a background portrait of the Luigi himself.
On the Obverse of the 20 Euro Gold Coin is engraved a portrait of Luigi Vanvitelli with an architect’s compass in his left hand and is inspired by a painting by an unknown artist, which is currently displayed at the Accademia di San Luca.
In the background is a shell motif, a recurring decorative element in Vanvitelli’s architecture.
Along the left and right peripheries around Vanvitelli’s image are the inscriptions "REPUBBLICA" and "ITALIA", with the name of the designer "U. PERNAZZA" seen just below the left side of Vanvitelli’s portrait.
The Reverse of the 20 Euro Gold Coin features a rendition of the statue known as Amorino, which is part of the Venus and Adonis sculpture in the Park of the Royal Palace of Caserta.
In the background is a detailed image of the front edifice of the Royal Palace seen from the top of the park drive.
To the left and above, along the edge of the primary design, is the inscription "LUIGI" and "VANVITELLI".
To the right side of the park’s drive is the denomination of "20 EURO" and, on the left, is the mintmark letter "R" (which represents the Mint of Rome).
Below the design are the commemorative years "1773 • 2023", representing Vanvitelli’s death and the coin’s year of issue, respectively.
The specifications of the two Coin Variants are:
i) 5 Euro Silver Coin Variant:
Country of issue: Republic of Italy ("Repubblica Italiana"); Denomination: 5 Euro; Coin Theme: "Luigi Vanvitelli (12.05.1700–01.03.1773), Architect & Painter, Italy"; Date/Year of issue: 21.02.2023; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 18.00 grams; Dimensions/Size: 32.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Minted By: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano (IPZS); Designer: Uliana Pernazza; Mintage: 6,000 pieces; Packaging: Presentation Case.
ii) 20 Euro Gold Coin Variant:
Country of issue: Republic of Italy ("Repubblica Italiana"); Denomination: 20 Euro; Coin Theme: "Luigi Vanvitelli (12.05.1700–01.03.1773), Architect & Painter, Italy"; Date/Year of issue: 21.02.2023; Metal Composition: .900 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 6.45 grams; Dimensions/Size: 21.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Minted By: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano (IPZS); Designer: Uliana Pernazza; Mintage: 1,500 pieces; Packaging: Presentation Case.
- Both Coins Variants are encapsulated and presented in an IPZS-branded custom case accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
7) Michelangelo's "Pieta", Vatican City: New Copper Coin Series titled "Art and Faithy": A 10 Euro Copper Coin minted by the "Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca Dello Stato" (IPZS) on behalf of the "Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico Governatorato della Cotta del Vaticano": Coin issue date: 05.03.2020
8) Ancient Postal Routes, Vatican City State: EUROPA 2020 Theme: Two stamps of 1.10 Euro and 1.15 Euro issued by the Ufficio filatelico e Numismatico -Governatorato, Vaticano featuring Ancient Postal Routes emanating from the Vatican City State during the 6th & 11th Centuries AD
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