History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

          Gaetano Meo (copyright Tom Gordon-Craig) Looking at this photograph of Gaetano Meo, it may come as a surprise to learn that as a young man he was a favourite model of London’s leading Pre-Raphaelite painters. We first encountered him when researching ‘The Good Grave Guide to Hampstead Cemetery’, where he is buried. This is the story of his life in London, and the lives and loves of some of his family members.   From Italy to London Around 1865, Gaetano arrived in London as an illegal immigrant, smuggled into the country aboard a freighter from France. He was born on 15 December 1849 in southern Italy, to Rocco and Francesca Meo. Tradition has it that all the Meo family were musicians, including Gaetano who played the harp. An alternative but less credible version (given we know most family members did play instruments well), claims Gaetano was sold by his cash-strapped parents to gypsies, who taught him to play.  Gaetano left Italy in M...