Mother Playing a Tambourine for Her Infant Child
Egisto Sarri (Italian, 1837–1901)
Oil on canvas, ca. late 19th century
Signed faintly lower right
Original label verso: Costa & Conte Gallery of Paintings, Florence
Sight: 14 x 10 in. | Overall: 24 x 19½ in.
Presented in a neoclassical giltwood frame with scarlet velvet-lined shadowbox under glass
In this tender domestic scene, Egisto Sarri imagines a Roman mother delighting her infant with the rhythmic sound of a tambourine. The composition, rich in classical drapery, architectural detail, and refined gesture, reflects Sarri’s academic training and the 19th-century fascination with ancient domestic life. A fresco of a dancing figure on the wall behind subtly reinforces the theme of music and movement.
Sarri, a Florentine painter trained under Enrico Pollastrini, was known for both grand historical compositions and intimate genre scenes. This work blends both tendencies—imbuing the ancient setting with the warmth and emotional immediacy of everyday motherhood.
