Musician With Cithar
1918
Giuseppe Signorini captures a moment of quiet dignity in this 1918 portrait of a musician standing against a stark, sun-bleached wall. The subject is draped in a luxurious, deep blue velvet robe that contrasts beautifully with his bright yellow turban and vibrant red slippers. He holds an ornate stringed instrument—labeled a cithar but closely resembling a West African kora—decorated with colorful feathers and tassels, suggesting he is a traditional storyteller. Working in the academic tradition, Signorini was known for his detailed Orientalist scenes, and here his mastery of texture, from the heavy fabric folds to the intricate patterns on the nearby stool, is on full display.