Anna Pasta (1869-1938), born in Gallarate, penultimate of nine children, daughter and nephew of carpenters (her grandfather, a patriot, took refuge in Switzerland in 1848, after wounding an Austrian), educated and enterprising in business, was sent in Malta, from the English fashion company she worked for, to open a local branch. She marries Camillo Premoli, with whom she shares a passion for travel and music (he is an excellent violinist). Dying, being a widow and childless, she destined to the hospital the building in Corso Porta Ticinese 98, owned by her husband, sure to interpret her will. He receives the commission of the portrait Marcello Dudovich, who works there for almost three years thus justifying himself: