MY PARENTS HAD a small collection of works of modern art in our home in London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb. These included an engraving by the Italian artist Emilio Greco (1913-1995). I have no idea where this image is now, but having grown up with it I was familiar with the artist’s name even if I knew nothing about him.
Today (14 July 2025) while walking near the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, we passed a modern fountain, and close to it, a bronze sculpture of a naked woman, perched on a cylindrical stone pedestal. On the pedestal are carved the words: “A gift to the City of Westminster from the President of the Italian Republic. 20th November 1987. Sponsored by the Italian Bank in London.” The President at that time was Francesco Cossiga (1928-2010). There was no mention of the creator of this artwork on the pedestal. However, at the base of the sculpture I could make out: “Emilio Greco 1977”. It had been made by the artist, whose engraving used to hang on the wall of our living room.
A website (https://pssauk.org/public-sculpture-of-britain/biography/greco-emilio/) provides some information about the artist, and his sculpture in Mayfair, which is a bronze casting of his sculpture “Crouching Figure No. 4”, created in 1973.
The sculpture is a great addition to the area, and is sometimes referred to as ‘Mayfair Lady’!
yamey 