{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O64428"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O64428/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW4451/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AW4451/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AW4451","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O64428","accessionNumber":"S.654:1 to 3-2001","objectType":"Bust","titles":[{"title":"Sculpted head of Tito Gobbi (1913-1984)","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This cast resin head, painted to resemble bronze, represents the Italian operatic baritone Tito Gobbi (1913-1984), noted for his fine 'bel canto' voice. He studied law before training as a singer, making his operatic debut in the Italian town of Gubbio 1935 as Count Rudolfo in Bellini's <i>La Sonnambula</i>.  In 1942 he made his Milan debut at La Scala and appeared in London at Covent Garden in 1951, on both occasions as Belcore in Donizetti's <i>L'Elisir d'Amore</i>.  He featured in twenty-five films, both in singing and speaking roles, and in the 1950s and 1960s was mostly based in Rome. In later years, he made the Lyric Opera of Chicago his base and retired from the stage in 1979.\r\n\r\nThe head belonged to the Russian-born theatrical agent Sander Gorlinsky (1908-1990) who came to Britain as a refugee in 1939 and worked with Jack Hylton. In 1947 he persuaded Beniamino Gigli to appear at Covent Garden, brought La Scala's company to Britain, and promoted Gigli's tours in the late 1940s. Having established himself as a concert promoter he went on to represent some of the most celebrated opera and ballet stars of the second half on the 20th century, notably Maria Callas, Montserrat Caballé and Rudolph Nureyev, as well as Tito Gobbi.  It was presented to the museum by Sander Gorlinsky's widow, Edith Gorlinsky.\n\n\n\n","physicalDescription":"Cast resin head of Tito Gobbi painted to imitate bronze, with removable metal wire pince-nez, on a separate chip-board base, the upper and lower surfaces painted black.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"resin","id":"AAT12882"},{"text":"wire","id":"AAT11063"},{"text":"chip-board","id":"x38862"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"modelling (forming)","id":"AAT53130"},{"text":"painting","id":"x30598"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast resin with wire on a laminated chip-board base","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Opera","id":"THES263971"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AW4451"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES355460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES355460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES355460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"busts","id":"AAT47457"}],[{"text":"busts","id":"AAT47457"}],[{"text":"busts","id":"AAT47457"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1972","earliest":"1972-01-01","latest":"1972-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Edith Gorlinsky","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"13.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at tallest point","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"15.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"back of head to tip of nose","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"ear to ear","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"removable pince-nez","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The bust came to the museum with the office effects of the impresario Sander Gorlinsky (1908-1990), who was an agent for many notable opera and ballet performers. His widow gave the bust to the V&amp;A.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cast and painted resin head of the opera singer Tito Gobbi (1913-1984) with removable pince-nez","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Gobbi, Tito","id":"N4484"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.654:3-2001","S.654:2-2001","S.654:1-2001"],"accessionNumberNum":"654","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2001,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","stand","pince-nez","Bust"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2002-03-20","availableToBook":true}}