Vincenzo Gemito (1852-1929) went to Paris in 1877 and remained until 1880. In 1878 he met the celebrated artist Meissonier, and they swiftly struck up a friendship, so much so that Meissonier guided and protected the young Neapolitan, having him to stay in his Paris Studio and at his Poissy villa. Even after Gemito's departure they remained in correspondence until 1886. Gemito was held very dear by the older man: "I was delighted with his genial nature, his enthusiasm for art and for all that is great .... I loved him because I felt his affinity to myself ...".
Gemito's training with Meissonier imbued his art with a new elegance and attention to detail. These Parisian characteristics are apparent in his portrait of Meissonier. At the painter's suggestion Gemito modelled the portrait from life in 1878-9, and a poignant record of this is the oil painted by Meissonier of Gemito at work on his portrait (fig. 1).
The portrait was cast in bronze and was exhibited in 1880 at the Salon and at the Esposizione Nazionale in Turin, receiving great acclaim in both venues. It is above all the strong portrait head, turned slightly to one side, the features held in a powerful concentration, and framed by a lovingly detailed beard, that fascinate. Though enjoying the grace of a full-length format, the portrait has the strength of character of a bust, vividly imparting its sense of romantic genius. The wax original and a bronze cast are now in the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome. The present is a fine cast of this rare model, eloquent in its admiration of the great artist, and a fine testament to the talented sculptor.