‘The Recital’, large antique Italian genre oil painting by Vittorio Reggianini

‘The Recital’, large antique Italian genre oil painting by Vittorio Reggianini
Italian, Late 19th century
Canvas: Height 85cm, width 125cm
Frame: Height 115cm, width 154cm, depth 10cm
 
This very large 19th-century Italian oil painting, titled ‘The Recital’, is a beautiful salon scene by Vittorio Reggianini (1858–1939). Born in Modena, Reggianini studied at the Academy of Fine Arts where he later became a professor and went on to exhibit in Florence in the early 20th century. He was famous for his refined depictions of elegant interiors, populated with graceful figures and rendered with exquisite detail. His portrayal of luscious, shiny fabrics, in particular, earned him lasting renown and made him highly sought after by European collectors.
 
Like many artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Reggianini explored the domestic world of women—reading, music-making, embroidery, and other cultivated, respectable pursuits. Such works reflected a contemporary fascination with refined private life, casting the home as a stage for elegance, leisure, and gentle sociability.
‘The Recital’ taps into this trope, depicting a trio of figures engaged in music-making: a violinist, a woman at a harpsichord, and a lady in a golden gown listening attentively. Yet there is more here than polite entertainment. The pairing of the man and the woman at the instrument, set against the backdrop of a painting of an embracing couple, invites the viewer to wonder if a subtle romance is unfolding. This curiosity is mirrored by their companion, seated apart at the other end of the piano: she surveys them with a sceptical, knowing gaze, as if catching a secret in the making. The harpsichord player, her cheeks delicately flushed, glances back—half defiant, half embarrassed—as though silently acknowledging that she has been seen. This interplay of glances and expressions brings a sense of intrigue and narrative tension to the otherwise harmonious domestic scene.
 
Signed lower right ‘V. Reggianini’, the painting is presented in an elaborate gilded frame that enhances its richness, drawing out the warm tones of the sitter’s golden gown and the brilliance of the painted details.
 
It stands as a superb example of Reggianini’s celebrated salon works, balancing technical virtuosity with narrative charm and a hint of mystery. Along with the painting’s high technical quality and vivid colour palette, this makes it the perfect addition to any collection of art.
 
Provenance:
- Butterfields, San Francisco, sale 26 May 1999, Lot 1023
 
Artist/Maker: Vittorio Reggianini