Medal Commemorating the Centenary of the Birth of Gaetano Donizetti, 1897

Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) ended up as a soldier with his regiment in Venice, where he had an opera performed. This earned the success and support of important patrons who were able to obtain his exemption as a soldier. He subsequently wrote about 70 more operas, which were performed in all major cities in Europe, then worldwide. After a successful career, he was appointed imperial court composer and Kapellmeister in Vienna in 1842. In 1897, the city of Bergamo decided to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Donizetti's birth by issuing this medal. Swiss artist G. Chiattone handled the design while Angelo Cappuccio did the engraving. It depicts Bergamo cathedral on the obverse and a woman holding a lyre on the reverse. The production of the medals was entrusted to the house of Johnson in Milan.