Work: Rossella

Description

This work, which is part of the collection of the Museo Omero, is a relief-modelled bronze medal. Its name is a reference to the author’s second wife, Rossella Segreto, who Annigoni married in the mid ’70s.

This is one of the many portraits Pietro dedicated to her.

It is a medium-sized medal, and the bronze patination has a typical ancient-looking brownish colour. The sculpting relief, modelled inside of a circular shape, appears varied and modulated in different heights; this makes it very perceivable to the touch and subject to the fall of light, which creates a multitude of soft and smoky shadows.
The tactile reading is pleasant thanks to the many signals the surface offers; this not only happens on the modelled part, but also on the edging areas, that is the empty space of the circular shape.

This work represents Rossella’s face and head, down until her neck; she is portrayed showing her left profile. Her hair is puffed and wavy as if stroke by a light breeze, and it is held together by a hairband tied at the nape of her neck. Her face matches the woman’s facial features: slightly aquiline nose, sealed lips and protruding cheekbones.