PERSICO, E. Luigi (1791-1860) Italian-American sculptor.
Name variant: Lugio.
Born Naples, Italy, 1791.
Came to America and Philadelphia 1818.
Persico was undoubtedly asked by the U.S. Mint for an improved design for the gold coinage. He modified the existing Capped Liberty design of the gold half and quarter eagles (originally engraved by Robert Scot and John Reich in 1807). Persico finished his model and exhibited it at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in February 1825. U.S. Mint engraver William Kneass engraved new dies for two denominations from Persico's model, however the two gold coins were only struck for five years (1829-1834). Breen does not mention the influence of this artist on Kneass's two gold coin designs but Vermeule states Persico prepared the full design.
Upon the recommendation of Rembrandt Peale (ca 1825), Persico was employed to prepare statuary for the U.S. Capitol building. He created The Genius of America (1825-28) for the east pediment, Peace and War in niches under the east portico and the Discovery Group (said to be Columbus and a crouching Indian) near steps at the south entrance. He was employed in Washington DC for twenty years but his further work was not favorably received by Congress. He exhibited busts in Boston and Pennsylvania Academy of Art, including one of President John Adams. He left America in 1855.
Died Marseilles, France, 1860.
C O I N S
1829 Capped Head Quarter Eagle Gold (by William Kneass
from model by Luigi Persico, after Robert Scot and
John Reich). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 6132-6137
1829 Capped Head Half Eagle Gold (by William Kneass
from model by Luigi Persico, after Robert Scot and
John Reich). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 6490-6500
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
Px {1825} New American Coin. Philadelphia National Gazette (3 February 1825); Persico's model of Liberty Head
on Exhibit at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, to be engraved by William Kneass.
A2 {1927} Fairman, p 47-48, passim.
A12 {1968} Craven, p 64-65, passim.
A18 {1974} Goode, p 20, 54, 58-59.
A26 {1982} Baigell.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 718.
AE1 {1988} Falk 1:171, 2:361, 3:351.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, p 194.
D10 {1995} McMahan.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 17:380-381, by Vivien Green Fryd.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 3:2583.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
A15 {1971} Vermeule, p 32 (misstates half dollar for half eagle of 1829).
O12 {1988} Breen 6132-6137 p 489-490; 6490-6500 524-526.
Name variant: Lugio.
Born Naples, Italy, 1791.
Came to America and Philadelphia 1818.
Persico was undoubtedly asked by the U.S. Mint for an improved design for the gold coinage. He modified the existing Capped Liberty design of the gold half and quarter eagles (originally engraved by Robert Scot and John Reich in 1807). Persico finished his model and exhibited it at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in February 1825. U.S. Mint engraver William Kneass engraved new dies for two denominations from Persico's model, however the two gold coins were only struck for five years (1829-1834). Breen does not mention the influence of this artist on Kneass's two gold coin designs but Vermeule states Persico prepared the full design.
Upon the recommendation of Rembrandt Peale (ca 1825), Persico was employed to prepare statuary for the U.S. Capitol building. He created The Genius of America (1825-28) for the east pediment, Peace and War in niches under the east portico and the Discovery Group (said to be Columbus and a crouching Indian) near steps at the south entrance. He was employed in Washington DC for twenty years but his further work was not favorably received by Congress. He exhibited busts in Boston and Pennsylvania Academy of Art, including one of President John Adams. He left America in 1855.
Died Marseilles, France, 1860.
C O I N S
1829 Capped Head Quarter Eagle Gold (by William Kneass
from model by Luigi Persico, after Robert Scot and
John Reich). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 6132-6137
1829 Capped Head Half Eagle Gold (by William Kneass
from model by Luigi Persico, after Robert Scot and
John Reich). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Breen 6490-6500
B I O G R A P I C A L R E F E R E N C E S
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
Px {1825} New American Coin. Philadelphia National Gazette (3 February 1825); Persico's model of Liberty Head
on Exhibit at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, to be engraved by William Kneass.
A2 {1927} Fairman, p 47-48, passim.
A12 {1968} Craven, p 64-65, passim.
A18 {1974} Goode, p 20, 54, 58-59.
A26 {1982} Baigell.
D33 {1986} Opitz, p 718.
AE1 {1988} Falk 1:171, 2:361, 3:351.
A32 {1993} Reynolds, p 194.
D10 {1995} McMahan.
BANB{1999} American National Biography, p 17:380-381, by Vivien Green Fryd.
BF2 {1999} Falk. Who Was Who in American Art, p 3:2583.
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
A15 {1971} Vermeule, p 32 (misstates half dollar for half eagle of 1829).
O12 {1988} Breen 6132-6137 p 489-490; 6490-6500 524-526.