Egisto Gaiani (d.1890) was born and died in Florence. Teaching at the Academy in Florence from 1857, he also set up his own atelier which became one of the most significant in Florence during the latter half of the nineteenth century. A wood sculptor and carver, Gaiani also designed and made single pieces of furniture in the High Renaissance style. He also undertook figurative and ornamental decorations as well as complete room designs, publishing with Luigi Frullini Panneaux et Ornements en Bois Sculpté. Much of Gaiani's work was purchased by Baron Giovanni Baracco and examples are to be found in several museum collections.

The present walnut panel by Gaiani depicts Bacchus on the island of Andros. Legend told how the Roman god of wine and revelry made an annual visit to the island, whereupon he turned a fountain of water into wine. In this finely carved depiction Bacchus reclines with two hunting dogs while Bacchante, his female devotee, plays a tambourine to music of the Bacchic ritual played by the satyrs, here shown as putti. A satyr pours wine into a pitcher to be served to Bacchus, who is often depicted as being drunk, whilst surrounded by vines and ivy, both sacred to the god.