Portrait of Lillian Gish

Lillian Diana Gish was an American actress, both on screen and on stage, and a director and writer. He film acting career spanned 75 years from 1912 to 1987. She was called the "First Lady of American Cinema", and is credited with pioneering fundamental film performance techniques we see today. This particular bust was made by Arturo Martini, a leading Italian sculptor between world war I and II. He moved between styles of classicism (almost ancient Roman), and modernism. He was associated with public sculpture in fascist Italy, later renouncing his medium altogether for his role as the semi-official sculptor for the Italian fascist regime.