Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, c. 1719, the 'MacDonald'
Viola: 40262
Labeled, "Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis faciebat anno 17__"
Back: One-piece
Length of back: 41.1 cm
Upper bouts: 18.6 cm
Middle bouts: 13.0 cm
Lower bouts: 24.3 cm
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Notes:
"The style of this viola in certain details-the flat model, the squarer outline and corners, broad edge, and very sturdy aspect as a whole - plainly heralds that of many of Stradivari's later productions; but the rather small and slightly Amatise sound-holes and clean finish of the work are typical of the earlier period. The wood of the back is of one piece, of broad and moderately handsome curl, the sides and head matching; that of the belly shows a broad and well-marked grain; the instrument is well covered with the red varnish so favoured by the master (a red tinged with orange), and its state of preservation leaves no room for complaint."Antonio Stradivarius: His Life & Work, W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), London
Dated 1705.
Stradivarius-Guarnerius del Gesù: Catalogue descriptif de leurs instruments, Charles-Eugène Gand, Stradivarius-Guarnerius del Gesù: Catalogue descriptif de leurs instruments (Facsimile of Gand's notes from 1870-91), Spa
This instrument, along with two other Strads [1509 and 2269] were purchased by George withers in 1887 for 57,000 FF and re-sold immediately to the Duc de Camposelice for 65,000 FF.
Drei Instrumenten von Stradivarius, Paul de Wit, Zeitschrift für Instrumentenbau, Leipzig
Provenance
| until 1792 | Marquis dalla Rosa |
| in 1792 | John Betts |
| from 1792 | Captain Coggan |
| until 1810 | G. Champion |
| from c. 1810 | Lord MacDonald |
| from 1832 | John Hart |
| until 1857 | James Goding |
| in 1857 | Sold by Christie & Manson |
| 1857-1887 | Vicomte Frédéric de Janzé |
| in 1887 | George Withers & Sons |
| 1887-1889 | Duc de Camposelice |
| 1889-1892 | Isabella Eugenia, Duchess of Camposelice |
| in 1892 | Sold by W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1892 | Baron Johann Knoop |
| until 1913 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1913 | Richard Bennett |
| in 1926 | Sold by W. E. Hill & Sons |
| in 1926 | Anonymous |
| 1926-1937 | Felix M. Warburg |
| ... | ... |
| from 1937 and in 1945 | Gerald F. Warburg |
| ... | ... |
| from 1964 | Max Möller |
| until 1987 | Peter Schidlof |
| from 1987 | Current owner |
Known players
Marcel Dick, Peter Schidlof, William Primrose
Certificates & Documents
Certificate: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., New York, NY (1926)
Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1926)- Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1926)
- Dendrochronology report: John C. Topham, Surrey Dating the youngest tree ring to 1712.
Cozio holds copies of many certificates and other documents, some of which are available to view on request. Please contact us if you wish to view a particular document. (Note that we do not always have permission to share documents.)
References
- Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902
Charles Ervin Violins- Zeitschrift für Instrumentenbau, Paul de Wit, edited by Paul de Wit, Leipzig, July 11, 1887
How Many Strads? (1999 edition), Doring, Bein & Fushi, Bein & Fushi, Chicago, 1999 (illustrated)- Private Archives - 10746
- Private Archives - 10842
- Stradivarius-Guarnerius del Gesù: Catalogue descriptif de leurs instruments (Facsimile of Gand's notes from 1870-91), Charles-Eugène Gand, Les Amis de la Musique, Spa
- The 'Secrets' of Stradivari, Simone Fernando Sacconi, Eric Blot Edizioni, Cremona (illustrated)
- The first star of the viola
- The Strad, January, 1988, London
- The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (illustrated)
- The Stradivari Memorial (1977), William Dana Orcutt, Da Capo Press, New York (illustrated)
- Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, NY (illustrated)
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)