Antonio Stradivari (Stradivari Antonio)

(ca. 1644-1737)
The exact date and place of birth Stradivari not installed. On one of his violins worth the stamp '1666, Cremona ', and this is the first evidence of the host master in the city, where he subsequently lived and where he died on December 18, 1837. The same stamp confirms that Stradivari learned from Nicolo Amati.
Almost all life was dedicated to improving the master of his art and producing great tools that have covered his name with immortal glory. To 1684 Stradivarius violin built a small, but then turned to production of larger instruments. Typical stradivarievskaya 'elongated violin' has 363 mm in length (to 9.5 mm larger amatievskoy violin). The wizard then reduced the length of the tool to 355,5 mm, while making it slightly wider and more arched vaults - so was born an unsurpassed model of symmetry and beauty. By the late period also belong to the best Stradivarius cello.

Over a lifetime master has created more than a thousand violins, violas and cellos, have survived some 600. Among the famous Stradivarius violins - 'Betts' (1704, now preserved in the Library of Congress), 'Viotti' (1709), 'Alard' (1715) and 'Messiah' (1716).

It is well known brand Stradivari: Maltese cross and the initials A.S. double circle. There are many counterfeits of Stradivari, and only an experienced expert can confirm the authenticity of the instrument.