Italy marks the 100th anniversary of the death of artist Cesare Maccari on latest 5€ silver coin

Cesare Maccari was born on 9 May 1840 was an Italian painter and sculptor who found fame for his works of historical art. It is his work on a series of frescoes in the Salone d’Onore, in Rome’s Palazzo Madama, (home to the Italian Senate), painted between 1882-1888, for which he has become best known.

The frescoes depict landmark events in the history of the Senate of Ancient Rome, and the most famous depiction is called Cicero Denounces Catiline. The Catiline Orations were a series of speeches given by Marcus Tullius Cicero accusing Lucius Sergius Catilina of scheming to overthrow the Roman leadership. It’s a fantastic work of art.

The coin takes a simplified reinterpretation of the artwork and does a pretty good job considering the size of the coin it has to be recognisable on. The reverse face is a simple view of the front of the building that holds the frescoes. Available now, the coin retails for €43.00.

REVERSE: view of the façade of Palazzo Madama in Rome, seat of the Senate of the Italian Republic

OBVERSE: representation of Cicero denouncing Catilina in the 1880 fresco by the
painter and sculptor Cesare Maccari held in Palazzo Madama.