Vincenzo Gemito, “bust Of A Neapolitan Girl,” Signed, 1913/1920

Vincenzo Gemito, “Bust of a Neapolitan Girl,” signed, 1913/1920

Vincenzo Gemito (Naples, 1852–1929), one of the greatest Italian sculptors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was renowned for his extraordinary ability to capture the vitality and expressiveness of ordinary Neapolitan subjects.

Period: 1913–1920.

Material: Dark patinated bronze, with a glossy finish that enhances the anatomical softness and naturalistic rendering of the skin.

Dimensions: 40 × 46 × 26 cm.

Description:

The bust depicts a young Neapolitan woman, captured in a natural and intense pose.

Her face is turned in profile to the right, with strongly characterized features, a penetrating gaze, and a concentrated and proud expression.

Her hair is gathered in a simple, compact chignon, with great attention to the plastic rendering of the strands.

The bust ends below the chest and rests on a dark, shaped marble base, which gives solidity to the whole.

Signature: Signed on the back by the artist.

This work expresses Gemito's poetics well, blending realism, direct observation, and technical refinement, making each subject a celebration of authentic and popular Neapolitan beauty.