Antonio Stradivari was born in 1644 and passed away as a violin maker in 1737.
This violin, so-called "Artot, Alard," was made in 1728 and meant to be a bridge between his golden period and late period.
Its name "Artot, Alard" is after two owners in the past: Alexandre Artot, a Belgian violinist (1815-1845) and Jean Delphin Alard, a French violinist (1815-1888).
When this violin was made, Stradivari was already over the age of 80, but was still energetic in violin making industriously. His ambition never withered even after making out excellent art pieces in his golden period (ca. 1700-1725).
His art pieces in the golden period were outstandingly precise and perfect in their beauty and sounds, but after such golden period, it feels from his artwork of the later period that he was making efforts to improve balances of an arch and the whole of a violin for deeper and warmer sounds.
This violin is the very example of such challenges.

On the back, small clear curls are placed almost horizontally. This pattern is also seen on "Artot Godowsky" in the possession of J. A. Artot, made in the same year, 1728.
The flame-like pattern on the rib looks as if moving into the same direction with the similar flame-like pattern on the back. If you take a look at them while changing the angles with you hand, they look very attractive.
It has been reserved in a perfect condition for almost 300 years without any flaw. Its sound gives a performer unlimited controllability of expressions, with overwhelming power, deep and dignified lower sound and brilliant higher sound.<

The description on this celebrated violin is included on the so-called Stradivari Dictionary, "Violin Iconography of Antonio Stradivari 1644-1737” by Herbert K. Goodkind.

*photographs by Jan Röhrman