Portrait of Giuseppe Verdi

This bust of Giuseppe Verdi was made in 1873, at the height of the composer’s fame. Gemito, by contrast, was relatively unknown outside his hometown of Naples. The sculptor initially had difficulty finding an appropriate pose, finally arriving at this composition after seeing Verdi playing the piano. The portrait captures not only the composer’s likeness, but also a sense of the intense concentration involved in musical creativity.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 8 minutes):

Giuseppe Verdi: The Sicilian Vespers, overture