In 1882, Vincenzo Gemito met Anna Cutolo, a renowned model portrayed by Domenico Morelli in Dama col ventaglio (1874). Their passionate relationship led to marriage, and Anna’s vibrant Neapolitan beauty deeply inspired Gemito, contrasting with his late Parisian wife, Mathilde Duffaud. Anna became his muse and emotional support, posing for numerous works. In 1895, she gave birth to their daughter Giuseppina (“Peppinella”), who later cared for Gemito during his mental illness.

Gemito’s most evocative drawing of Anna dates to 1886 (signed 1909), held in the Collezione Intesa San Paolo. He continued portraying her until her death in 1906, documenting her decline with poignant realism. Grief-stricken, he lived 23 more years, cared for by Peppinella.

In 1886, Gemito sculpted a bust of Anna in terracotta and wax, now at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Roma Capitale. Though incomplete, it served as the model for marble and bronze versions (Minozzi collection). The bronze (1886) was widely replicated, often poorly. However, the bronze examined here differs significantly: intact base, softer hair modeling, and unique features. Fingerprints in the wax suggest it is a high-quality, unpublished “first casting,” likely chiseled by Gemito himself.