The “Messiah” violin made by Antonius Stradivarius in Cremona, Italy in 1716
is considered by many people to be the consumate violin. The craftsmanship
of the violin is exquisitely precise. The Spruce and Maple of the instrument
are outstanding.
The Messiah violin remained unused in the Stradivarius workshop until the
death of Antonius Stradivarius in 1737. Still unused and not played, the
Messiah violin was sold by Antonius’ son Paolo to Count Cozio di Salabue in
1775. Luigi Tarisio purchased the Messiah Stradivarius violin from Count Cozio
in 1827. Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume of Paris purchased the Messiah Stradivarius
violin , and the rest of Tarisio’s collection, upon Tarisio’s death in 1854.
Eventually the Messiah Stradivarius made its way to London and the Ashmolean
Museum in Oxford, England.
The Messiah Antonius Stradivarius violin is still on display at the Ashmolean
and still remains unused and not played. The violin is very close to the
original state it left the workshop of Antonius Stradivarius in 1737.
Messiah Strad Feature Pictures:
Front Full
Front Close
Front Close 2
Back
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Side
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