The Countess Fattori 1898

Filippo Cifariello sculpted "The Countess Fattori" in bronze, immortalizing a member of the Italian aristocracy. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, portrait busts like this one served as powerful symbols of status and lineage. Cifariello, working in Italy, likely aimed to capture not just the Countess's likeness, but also her social standing. The choice of bronze, a durable and expensive material, speaks to the family's wealth and desire for lasting recognition. The Countess's stern expression and formal attire are visual cues that denote her class and position within society. These kinds of portrait busts were often commissioned by wealthy families, who then displayed them prominently in their homes as statements of their cultural refinement. To fully understand this work, we might look to sources such as social registers and genealogical records. These can shed light on the Fattori family's history and social networks. The sculpture’s meaning is thus contingent on both its artistic qualities and its place within the social and institutional contexts of its time.