Girolamo Amati I, Cremona, c. 1590, the 'Henry IV'
Viola: 44670
Labeled, "Andrea Amadi in Cremona MDLXXIIII."
Back: One-piece, covered with a painting of the armorial bearings of Henry IV supported on each side by an angel
Top: of spruce with an open and well-defined grain
Scroll: of faint narrow curl
Ribs: of wood similar to back, inscribed in gilt letters "Dvo Proteci Tvnvs"
Varnish: Red-brown
Length of back: 42.2 cm
Upper bouts: 20 cm
Middle bouts: 12.9 cm
Lower bouts: 24.3 cm
There are 15 additional images in the archive which are not available publicly. Please contact us for more information.
Notes:
This is one of two instruments commissioned by Henry IV that survived the French revolution. The other is a violin (ID=2362)."At each end of the back is a gold letter 'H' surmounted by the crown of France. Both designs are topped by laurel leaves. Geometrically spaced throughout the back are six flambeaux. Painted on the maple ribs is the Latin inscription: 'DVO PROTEGI TVNVS' (God preserve my tone). This motto progresses around the sides from left to right."
The History of the Viola, Volume 1, Maurice W. Riley, The History of the Viola, Volume I
Listed by Sotheby's as "by a member of the Amati Family, Cremona, Circa 1600".
Sotheby's Fine Pianos and Strings Auction Catalog, April 16, 1981, New York, Sotheby's, Sotheby's Fine Pianos and Strings Auction Catalog, April 16, 1981, New York, New York
Provenance
| Miss E.A. Willmott | |
| until 1610 | Henry IV, King of France & Navaree |
| until 1890 | George Herbert |
| until 1935 | W. E. Hill & Sons |
| from 1935 | Antonio Antoncich |
| in 1980 | Captain Edgar K. Thompson |
| ... | ... |
| in c. 2010 | Chi-Mei Culture Foundation |
Certificates & Documents
Letter: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1935) Gives history of the instrument.
Certificate: W. E. Hill & Sons, London (1935) States that the length of the instrument was probably about 18 inches or longer before it was cut down around 1800. "I consider it a very interesting example of Amati workmanship, a great rarity, and from the tonal point of view, an excellent instrument."
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
- Peter Biddulph photographic archives
- Private Archives - 10072
- Private Archives - 10746
Sotheby's Fine Pianos and Strings Auction Catalog, April 16, 1981, New York, Sotheby's, Sotheby's, New York (illustrated)- Journal of the Violin Society of America, Vol. V, No. 1, Maurice W. Riley, The Violin Society of America, Flushing, NY (illustrated)
- The History of the Viola, Volume I, Maurice W. Riley (illustrated)
- The Jacques Français Rare Violins, Inc. Photographic Archive and Business Records, 1844-1998, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (illustrated)
- W. E. Hill & Sons Photographic Archive (illustrated)