Antonio Stradivari
This spectacular instrument was made in 1728 when Antonio Stradivari was 84 years old. The construction of the violin is unique in that the varnish has a reddish hue, a two piece back and is smaller than violins that were built in the 19th century.
The violin has had several owners throughout its existence, and is considered a rare work of art. Like many instruments, they were given names based on their previous owners or musicians who played them. The “Artot” Stradivarius belonged to Alexandre Artot, a Belgian solo violinist who tragically passed away at the very young age of 30.
This beautiful instrument was on generous loan from The Juilliard School.
Giovanni Francesco Pressenda
This violin is considered the first known instrument made by nineteenth century violinmaker Giovanni Francesco Pressenda of Turin, Italy. The instrument has a two piece back of slightly burled maple, being cut off the quarter. It displays narrow figure ascending slightly from the centre joint. The rib material is made to match and the scroll is of a similar material. The two piece top, displays medium width grain widening at the flanks. The varnish is a reddish brown over amber. It is in a very fine state of preservation and remains in nearly the same state it was when it left the master's hands almost two hundred years ago.
For many years, the instrument was in the possession of Remo Bolignini, a pupil of Ysaÿe. A native of Buenos Aires, Bolignini was assistant concertmaster of the NBC Symphony and, subsequently, of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
This wonderful instrument was on generous loan from the Canada Council for the Arts.
