Antonio Stradivari, Cremona, 1690, the 'Medici, Tuscan'
Violin: 40238
Back: One-piece
Varnish: orange-brown
Length of back: 35.6 cm
Upper bouts: 17 cm
Lower bouts: 21 cm
Notes:
"No more unique example of his unrivalled finish of work exists than the 'Tuscan' violin, made in 1690. It stands alone." (p. 41)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
"Of all the violins made in the period previous to 1704, the "Tuscan" represents most perfectly the greatness of his ability. The bold, original style, perfect technical workmanship, and splendid all-round tone, completely convince one for the first time of his great skill and originality. The tonal characteristics of this fine and perfectly preserved violin are a woody and intensely brilliant quality, clear and resonant as a bell-but without a trace of metallic shrillness-and a sonority made remarkably telling by the brilliancy of the quality. We remember Joachim's first acquaintance with the "Tuscan "- how, after playing a few passages on it, he stopped and exclaimed, "Listen ! how it rings!" then, after again preluding, "How pure and brilliant! I was led to believe that the tone was unsatisfactory. How is it possible for anybody to have come to such a conclusion? Surely they could not have tried it.""
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
This instrument probably belonged to the quintet ordered in 1684 by the Marquis Ariberti to be presented to Prince Ferdinand, son of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1891, W. E. Hills & Sons published a monograph about this instrument.
Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Charles Beare, Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Milan
"In 1845 this violin was rescued from a fire and later was taken to Vuillaume, Paris, for repairs."
The Violin Gallery, George A. Dissmore, The Violin Gallery, Des Moines, IA
Provenance
| in 1690 | Marquis Ariberti |
| 1690-1737 | Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo III de Medici |
| 1737-1794 | Tuscan State |
| from 1794 | David Ker |
| in 1870 and until c. 1880 | Ricardo |
| ... | ... |
| 1888-1889 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1889 | Robert E. Brandt |
| from 1904 | Charles James Oldham |
| until 1907 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1907 | Robert E. Brandt |
| Eric H. Rose | |
| until 1908 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1908 | Frederick Smith |
| until 1916 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1916 | Richard Bennett |
| until 1933 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1933 | George H. Kemp |
| 1940-1953 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1953 | Museo Strumentale of the Accademia Nazionale di S Cecilia |
Known players
Gioconda de Vito
References
Antonio Stradivari and His Instruments, William Henley, Amati Publishing, Ltd., Sussex, 1961 (illustrated)- Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, William E. Hill & Sons, London, 1902 (illustrated)
- Antonius Stradivarius (Balfoort), Dirk J. Balfoort, The Continental Book Company, Stockholm (illustrated)
- Capolavori di Antonio Stradivari, Charles Beare, Arnoldo Mondadori S.p.A., Milan (illustrated)
- Italian Violin Makers (1964), Karel Jalovec, Paul Hamlyn, London, 1964 (illustrated)
- The Strad, December, 1987, John Dilworth, London (illustrated)
- Stradivari’s Medici Quintet, part 1, Cozio Carteggio feature, Alessandra Barabaschi (illustrated)
- Stradivari’s Medici Quintet, part 3, Cozio Carteggio feature, Alessandra Barabaschi (illustrated)
- The Amadeus Book of the Violin
- The Tuscan and Le Messie, W. E. Hill & Sons, London (illustrated)
- The Violin Gallery, George A. Dissmore, Des Moines, IA (illustrated)
- Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737, Herbert K. Goodkind, Larchmont, NY (illustrated)