Bust of the Fisherboy by Vincenzo Gemito

Bust of the Fisherboy c. 1876 - 1886

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bronze, sculpture

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portrait

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sculpture

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bronze

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sculpture

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realism

Dimensions: height with base: 45 cm (17 11/16 in.)

Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0

Vincenzo Gemito created this bronze sculpture of a "Fisherboy" sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Bronze is a traditional material, but its use here reflects Gemito’s focus on capturing everyday life rather than idealised forms. The lost-wax casting process allowed Gemito to create a highly textured surface. You can see the marks of his tools on the boy’s hair and face. This rough, unfinished quality was a deliberate choice, moving away from the smooth surfaces favored in academic sculpture. Instead, Gemito embraces a realism that reflects the gritty reality of working-class life in Naples. The sculpture speaks to broader social issues. The “fisherboy” was a common Romantic trope, but here the boy’s downcast gaze suggests the hardship and labor of his daily life. Gemito’s skill transforms bronze into a powerful social statement, blurring the lines between fine art and social commentary.

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