Welcome to week 1 of Six Weeks of Stradivarius! Over the next weeks I shall be drawing six of my favourite violins made by the master himself, Antonio Stradivari.
Alard, Baron Knoop - 1715
Let me introduce you to the 'Alard, Baron Knoop', a violin made during Stradivari's 'Golden Era' in 1715. This instrument, named after the French violinist Jean-Delphin Alard, has a rich and varied history. After the Hill brothers published their important work on Stradivari in 1902, the Alard came into the possession of Baron Knoop; then becoming known as the Alard, Baron Knoop.
'That famous example the "Alard" exhibits all the necessary qualities to constitute it one of Stradivari's most remarkable achievements. The searcher after the ideal in tone-and there are many such-will look for the combination in one violin of absolute beauty of quality, great volume, and perfect articulation. These perfections exist in a large number of the great master's instruments, but never in the proportions to suit the hypercritical. The quality of one Stradivari does not please him, another is wanting in power, and a third does not respond easily enough to the performer. However, the "Alard" possesses these attributes as happily blended together as is possible in a violin made by mortal hands.'
Antonio Stradivarius: His Life & Work, W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, W. Henry, Arthur F. & Alfred E. Hill, Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work (1644-1737), London
This drawing was completed in just under 8 hours. I concentrated heavily on the wood's details, identifying the dark and light areas to maximize contrast.
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