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STRADIVARIUS
13 June – 11 August 2013
This special exhibition celebrated the life and work of Antonio Stradivari.
For the first time ever in the UK, 21 of Stradivari's most important, well-preserved instruments were displayed to showcase the brilliance of his craft, including 11 works from his Golden Period.
Dr Jon Whiteley, Senior Assistant Keeper of Western Art and Curator of the exhibition, says: "The Ashmolean is thrilled and honoured to be holding this exhibition, and we are extremely grateful to the institutions and private owners who have generously lent their instruments. To bring together so many rare and important violins – by the greatest maker of all time – is an extraordinary event and one which I hope our many visitors will enjoy."
The exhibition was open at the Ashmolean Museum 13 June – 11 August 2013.
- Accompanies the first Stradivarius exhibition of its kind in the UK
- Unique opportunity to view works from private collections
- Includes many previously unpublished images, including new photography for all instruments and Cremona workshop tools, plus rare archive material including the Church of San Domenico where Stradivari was originally buried
Antonio Stradivari is, perhaps, the only maker of violins who ranks alongside Van Gogh and Turner as an artist. A household name to many, he is associated liquidation with secret formulae and mystical processes ensuring the worlds greatest soloists seek his instruments. He excites controversy, although none of his violins have raised so much heated debate as the AshmoleansMessiah, making headline news some ten years ago when doubt was cast on its age. Stradivaris birthplace is unknown, he may have been born in 1644, and even his apprenticeship to Nicola Amati is uncertain. He died rich and famous in Cremona in 1737. Since then his instruments have increased in fame and are now regarded as supreme examples of the violinmakers craft.
Despite the great fame of Stradivaris violins, there has never been a monographic exhibition of his work in the UK. The exhibition at the Ashmolean will include 21 instruments, representative of Stradivaris range and output across the years, alongside exceedingly rare examples of stringed instruments other than those of the violin family.
The prize items to be featured in the exhibition are already in the Ashmolean: The Potter, The Messiah and the guitar of 1688, all works of the greatest rarity. The exhibition and the accompanying catalogue will allow the public to see the work of one of the greatest violinmakers of all time. Stradivarius also presents the most recent research on Stradivarius instruments.
Contents:
- Introduction by James Ehnes
- Essay on Stradivarius by Charles Beare
- Essay on Stradivarius work including dendrochronology of the instruments
- The luthiers perspective: How Stradivari violins are built and what makes them so good? By Peter Beare
- Catalogue entries
- Technical information
- 1st Edition
