Vittorio Matteo Corcos (1859–1933) was an Italian painter celebrated for his elegant and psychologically insightful portraits that captured the refined spirit of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Livorno, Italy, he studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and later under Domenico Morelli in Naples, where he developed a mastery of light, realism, and emotional depth. In the 1880s, Corcos moved to Paris, where he worked with the influential art dealer Adolphe Goupil and became known for his portraits of fashionable society. Blending Italian precision with French sophistication, his paintings often depicted women of the Belle Époque—poised, introspective, and elegantly dressed. Upon returning to Florence, Corcos became one of Italy’s leading portraitists, capturing aristocrats, intellectuals, and artists, including poet Gabriele D’Annunzio. His most famous work, *Sogni* (“Dreams,” 1896), exemplifies his ability to merge outer beauty with inner contemplation. Throughout his career, Corcos revealed not just appearances but the psychological complexity of his subjects. His refined technique, luminous color, and empathetic vision established him as a master of Italian realism. Corcos died in Florence in 1933, leaving behind a legacy of timeless elegance and emotional depth in portraiture.