Mario Baiardi was born in Valinza, Italy, on 19 August 1909. At the Free Academy of Arts he studied sculpting and engraving. Moving to Turin and later to Rome, he soon made a name for himself, producing both sculptures an engravings.
During this time he also engraved the odd stamp. His first ones date from 1938 when he engraved a design for the Vatican City airmail set, depicting a statue of St Peter, which was used for two values.
In 1948, Baiardi, along with other excellent Italian engravers, such as Pietro Nicastro, was asked to come to the Argentina Mint in 1948. The prime objective was to found a school of engravers, so that the quality of recess-printing could be raised to a high level of excellence.
Baiardi stayed in Argentina for four years. He was then asked to return to Italy, to found a school of engraving over there. During his stay in Argentina, Baiardi was famed for his artistic skills. Using as thin a burin as possible, Baiardi managed to engrave portraits, skin, fabrics so lifelike that it looked like a photograph was taken. Even his colleague Pietro Nicastro, who was so demanding he did not easily find praise for anyone, called Baiardi a phenomenon.
In 1952, the Bank of Italy offered Baiardi the position of chief engraver, which he accepted. Baiardi's engraving technique gave him the nickname of "Father of Engraving" in Italy. His style influenced many of his contemporary colleagues and future successors during the 1950s to the 1970s.
While most of his work during his time in Italy consists of banknote engraving, among which a range of fabulous portraits on the 1962 set of Italian banknotes, he did also engrave a few stamps, though oddly enough only for Portugal. His 1961 engraving for that country, with a portrait of King Pedro V, is proof that Baiardi's talent for engraving fine portraits was easily translated to the smaller stamp format as well.
Mario Baiardi passed away in 1972.
Mario Baiardi's database can be found HERE.
During this time he also engraved the odd stamp. His first ones date from 1938 when he engraved a design for the Vatican City airmail set, depicting a statue of St Peter, which was used for two values.
In 1948, Baiardi, along with other excellent Italian engravers, such as Pietro Nicastro, was asked to come to the Argentina Mint in 1948. The prime objective was to found a school of engravers, so that the quality of recess-printing could be raised to a high level of excellence.
In 1952, the Bank of Italy offered Baiardi the position of chief engraver, which he accepted. Baiardi's engraving technique gave him the nickname of "Father of Engraving" in Italy. His style influenced many of his contemporary colleagues and future successors during the 1950s to the 1970s.
While most of his work during his time in Italy consists of banknote engraving, among which a range of fabulous portraits on the 1962 set of Italian banknotes, he did also engrave a few stamps, though oddly enough only for Portugal. His 1961 engraving for that country, with a portrait of King Pedro V, is proof that Baiardi's talent for engraving fine portraits was easily translated to the smaller stamp format as well.
Mario Baiardi passed away in 1972.
Mario Baiardi's database can be found HERE.