Coin set proof

Domenico Ghirlandaio was a Florentine painter of the early Renaissance. His nickname probably derives from his father’s profession as a goldsmith who made garland-like ornaments. Ghirlandaio ran a productive workshop in Florenz and worked primarily on frescoes, altarpieces and portraits. His patrons included wealthy merchant families and ecclesiastical institutions. The young Michelangelo also worked in his workshop for a time.

Ghirlandaio’s works frequently combine religious narratives with the Florenz of his own time. Biblical figures and saints appear in clearly structured spatial settings, while clothing, architecture and portraits refer to the urban society of the 15th century. As a result, his paintings served not only a religious function but also acted for the donor families as an expression of their social rank. Outside Florenz, Ghirlandaio was involved, among other projects, in the decoration of the Sistine Chapel (Sixtinische Kapelle) in Rome.

The Sassetti Chapel was the family chapel of the Florentine banker Francesco Sassetti, who was closely associated with the Medici Bank. Its pictorial programme is dedicated to Saint Franziskus, the patron saint of the patron. Ghirlandaio decorated the walls with scenes from his life. In doing so, he transposed individual events into a Florentine setting and included portraits of members of the Sassetti family as well as people from the circle of the Medici.

The altarpiece used as the model for the coin was also created for this chapel. Its composition shows influences of Dutch painting, which was being closely studied in Florenz at the time. At the same time, it contains references to antiquity, for example through architectural fragments and a stone sarcophagus serving as a manger. Christian salvation history, the ancient heritage and contemporary visual culture are thus combined.

No direct biographical connection between Ghirlandaio and San Marino can be identified. Rather, the issue forms part of the regular San Marino coin programmes dedicated to artists and anniversaries in European cultural history.