Teresa de Francisci
Encyclopedia
Teresa Cafarelli de Francisci (May 4, 1898 – October 20, 1990) is best known as the model for the depiction of Liberty on the obverse of the Peace Dollar
and as the wife of artist Anthony de Francisci
.
. When she was four years old, she and her mother emigrated to the United States. She was raised in Clinton, Massachusetts
, graduating from Clinton High School
in 1918. De Francisci was the first person of Italian descent to graduate the school. She married Anthony de Francisci in 1920. Anthony de Francisci died on October 20, 1964. Terese de Francisci died exactly 26 years later, on October 20, 1990, at the age of 92.
In 1921, the United States Commission of Fine Arts
held a contest in order to determine who would design the new silver dollar that was to be issued as a commemorative of peace. The coin was slated to go into production later that year. Eight sculptors were invited to take part. The artists invited were Chester Beach
, Victor David Brenner
, Anthony de Francisci, John Flanagan, Henry Hering
, Hermon Atkins MacNeil
and Adolph Alexander Weinman
. De Francisci's design was eventually chosen. As winner of the contest, de Francisci was awarded $1,500; the other seven participants were awarded $100 for their entries. Due to time constraints, de Francisci was unable to schedule a professional model to pose for the obverse
depiction of Liberty. Instead, he opted to model his depiction of Liberty on his wife. In describing his technique, he stated "I opened a window of my studio and let the wind blow on her hair while she was posing for me." The sculptor later stated that though his wife was the model for the coin, it did not depict a perfect likeness. In remarks published by the Minneapolis Tribune in 1922, de Francisci states that "the Liberty is not a photograph of Mrs. de Francisci. It is a composite face and in that way typifies something of America." The Peace dollar officially went into production on December 29, 1921. The coin was minted yearly from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935.
Peace Dollar
The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its reverse depicts an eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend...
and as the wife of artist Anthony de Francisci
Anthony de Francisci
Anthony de Francisci was an Italian-American sculptor who designed a number of United States coins and medals...
.
Personal life
De Francisci was born Mary Teresa Cafarelli in a town south of Naples, ItalyNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. When she was four years old, she and her mother emigrated to the United States. She was raised in Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,606 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton , Massachusetts....
, graduating from Clinton High School
Clinton High School (Clinton, Massachusetts)
Clinton Senior High SchoolDistrictClinton Public SchoolsSchool typePublicReligious affiliationNoneLocationClinton, Massachusetts USAEnrollment 2005-2006593 studentsGrades9-12Campus SurroundingsSuburbanSchool MascotGael...
in 1918. De Francisci was the first person of Italian descent to graduate the school. She married Anthony de Francisci in 1920. Anthony de Francisci died on October 20, 1964. Terese de Francisci died exactly 26 years later, on October 20, 1990, at the age of 92.
Peace Dollar model
United States Commission of Fine Arts
The United States Commission of Fine Arts , established in 1910 by an act of Congress, is an advisory agency of the Federal government.The CFA is mandated to review and provide advice on "matters of design and aesthetics", involving federal projects and planning in Washington, D.C...
held a contest in order to determine who would design the new silver dollar that was to be issued as a commemorative of peace. The coin was slated to go into production later that year. Eight sculptors were invited to take part. The artists invited were Chester Beach
Chester Beach
Chester A. Beach was an American sculptor who was known for his busts and medallic art.-Early life:Beach was born in San Francisco, California. He studied initially at the California School of Mechanical Arts and worked as a jewelry designer immediately afterward, while continuing his art studies...
, Victor David Brenner
Victor David Brenner
Victor David Brenner born as Viktoras Barnauskas was an Lithuanian-American sculptor, engraver, and medalist known primarily as the designer of the United States Lincoln Cent.-Biography:...
, Anthony de Francisci, John Flanagan, Henry Hering
Henry Hering
Henry Hering was an American sculptor who was born New York City on February 15, 1874 and died there on January 17, 1949.-Early career:He was a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens at Cooper Union and of Philip Martiny at the Art Students League of New York...
, Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil
Hermon Atkins MacNeil was an American sculptor born in Chelsea, Massachusetts.He was an instructor in industrial art at Cornell University from 1886 to 1889, and was then a pupil of Henri M. Chapu and Alexandre Falguière in Paris...
and Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman
Adolph Alexander Weinman was an American sculptor, born in Karlsruhe, Germany.- Biography :Weinman arrived in the United States at the age of 10. At the age of 15, he attended evening classes at Cooper Union and later studied at the Art Students League of New York with sculptors Augustus St....
. De Francisci's design was eventually chosen. As winner of the contest, de Francisci was awarded $1,500; the other seven participants were awarded $100 for their entries. Due to time constraints, de Francisci was unable to schedule a professional model to pose for the obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
depiction of Liberty. Instead, he opted to model his depiction of Liberty on his wife. In describing his technique, he stated "I opened a window of my studio and let the wind blow on her hair while she was posing for me." The sculptor later stated that though his wife was the model for the coin, it did not depict a perfect likeness. In remarks published by the Minneapolis Tribune in 1922, de Francisci states that "the Liberty is not a photograph of Mrs. de Francisci. It is a composite face and in that way typifies something of America." The Peace dollar officially went into production on December 29, 1921. The coin was minted yearly from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935.