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Presented in partnership with the Museo del Violino and Friends of Stradivari, MIM’s one-of-a-kind special exhibition Stradivarius: Origins and Legacy of the Greatest Violin Maker showcased 10 exceptional historic and modern examples from the bowed string family, including a 1728 Stradivarius violin on public display in the United States for the first time.
This one-of-a-kind exhibition told the story of how early violin makers from the modest Italian city of Cremona shaped music from the 16th century onward. The timeless masterpieces displayed were handcrafted by master luthiers, including Andrea Amati, the founding father of the violin; the rogue genius Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù; and the master himself, Antonio Stradivari.
Andrea Amati is often referred to as the founding father of the violin. This violin is one of only around 20 known surviving Amati instruments. It was made for King Charles IX of France, son of the powerful Catherine de’ Medici.
Loan courtesy of the Friends of Stradivari
As the most widely imitated violin maker, Stradivari arguably has the most familiar name among instrument makers. The deep color tones and refined craftsmanship of this instrument represent the late-period work of this master.
Approximately 200 instruments by the maker known as “del Gesù” survive today. They are prized by musicians the world over and often fetch equal or higher prices on the auction block than Stradivari’s instruments.
Learn more about the history of these extraordinary musical instruments in MIM’s special exhibition catalog, available for purchase at the Museum Store or online at theMIMstore.org.
Presented in partnership with the Museo del Violino and Friends of Stradivari
Sponsored by HighTower, U.S. Bank, Sagewood, Aspiriant, and KBACH
