Drum Maker Stretches Hide in Florence Workshop

Late afternoon sunlight falls through high windows into a Santa Croce workshop, illuminating a craftsman stretching a large animal hide across a wooden frame. The leather, pale and supple, catches the soft overcast glow while autumn shadows lengthen across the stone floor. Dust motes float in the angled beams near rows of tools and hanging skins. Warm lamplight begins to pool in the room's corners, against the cool daylight. The craftsman’s hands press firmly against the wet hide, smoothing the grain. A wooden mallet rests on a workbench beside a pile of dried oak leaves, marking the season's arrival.