Antonio Stradivari 1

Antonio Stradivari
"Stradivari" redirects here. For the instruments bearing his name, see Stradivarius. For the 1988 film, see Stradivari
(film).
Antonio Stradivari (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo stradiˈvaːri]; 1644 –
18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string
instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari
is generally considered the most significant and greatest artisan in this
field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the
colloquial, "Strad", is often used to refer to his instruments. It is
estimated that he made 1,000 to 1,100 instruments and that around 650
of these instruments survive, including 450 to 512 violins.
A romanticized print of Antonio Stradivari
examining an instrument. No authentic portrait
has been discovered.

Biography

Family background and early life

Stradivari's ancestry consisted of notable citizens of Cremona, dating
back to at least the 12th or 13th century. The earliest mention of the
family name, or a variation upon it, is in a land grant dating from
1188.[1] The origin of the name itself has several possible explanations;
some sources say it is the plural of Stradivare, essentially meaning
"toll-man" in Lombard, while others say that the form "de Strataverta"
derives from Strada averta, which, in Cremonese dialect means "open
road."[2] Panorama of Cremona, with the Torrazzo di
Cremona prominent
Antonio's parents were Alessandro Stradivari, son of Giulio Cesare
Stradivari, and Anna Moroni, daughter of Leonardo Moroni.[3] They
married on 30 August 1622, and had at least three children between 1623 and 1628: Giuseppe Giulia Cesare, Carlo
Felice, and Giovanni Battista. The baptismal records of the parish of S. Prospero then stop, and it is unknown
whether they had any children from 1628 to 1644.[4] This blank in the records may be due to the family leaving
Cremona in response to war, famine, and plague in the city from 1628 to 1630,[5] or the records may have been lost
due to clerical reforms imposed by Joseph II of Austria in 1788.[6] The latter explanation is supported by the word
Cremonensis (of Cremona) on many of Stradivari's labels, which suggests that he was born in the city instead of
merely moving back there to work.[7] Antonio was born in 1644, a fact deducible from later violins.[8] However,
there are no records or information available on his early childhood, and the first evidence of his presence in
Cremona is the label of his oldest surviving violin from 1666.[9]

Stradivari likely began an apprenticeship with Nicolò Amati between the ages of 12 and 14,[10] although a minor
debate surrounds this fact. One of the few pieces of evidence supporting this is the label of his 1666 violin, which
reads, Alumnus Nicolai Amati, faciebat anno 1666.[11] However, Stradivari did not repeatedly put Amati's name on
his labels, unlike many of his other students.[12] Stradivari's early violins actually bear less of a resemblance to those
of Amati than his later instruments do. M. Chanot-Chardon, a well-known French luthier, asserted that his father had
a label of Stradivari's stating, "Made at the age of thirteen, in the workshop of Nicolò Amati". This label has never
Antonio Stradivari 2

been found or confirmed. Amati would also have been a logical choice for Antonio's parents, as he represented an
old family of violin makers in Cremona, and was far superior to most other luthiers in Italy.
An alternative theory is that Stradivari started out as a woodworker: the house he lived in from 1667 to 1680 was
owned by Francesco Pescaroli, a woodcarver and inlayer. Stradivari may even have been employed to decorate some
of Amati's instruments, without being a true apprentice. This theory is supported by some of Stradivari's later violins,
which have elaborate decorations and purfling.[13]
Assuming that Stradivari was a student of Amati, he would have begun his apprenticeship in 1656–58 and produced
his first decent instruments in 1660, at the age of 16. His first labels were printed from 1660 to 1665, which indicates
that his work had reached a quality sufficiently high enough for him to offer it directly to his patrons. However, he
probably stayed in Amati's workshop until about 1684, so as to use his master's reputation as a launching point for
his career.[14]

Marriage and early career

Stradivari married his first wife, Francesca Feraboschi, on 4 July 1667.[15]
Francesca was the young widow of the burgher Giacomo Capra, with whom she
had two children, and who had been shot by Francesca's brother on the Piazza
Garibaldi (formerly the Piazza Santa Agata).[16] After their marriage, Stradivari
moved into a house known as the Casa del Pescatore, or the Casa Nuziale, in his
wife's parish. The couple had a daughter, Giulia Maria, three to four months
later.[17] They remained in this house until 1680, during which time they had
four more children: Catterina, Francesco, Alessandro, and Omobono Stradivari,
as well as an infant son who lived for only a week.[18]

Antonio Stradivari's second house, at
No. 2 Piazza San Domenico
Stradivari likely developed his own style slowly. His violins often used slightly
smaller dimensions.Wikipedia:Citation needed A notable exception to this is the
1697 Hellier violin, which had much larger proportions.[19] Stradivari's early
(pre-1684) violins are in strong contrast to Amati's instruments from the same
time period; Stradivari's have a stronger, more masculine build, and less rounded
curves, with the purfling set farther in.[20][21]

By 1680, Stradivari had acquired at least a small, yet growing, reputation. In 1682, a Venetian banker ordered a
complete set of instruments, which he planned to present to King James II of England.[22] The fate of these
instruments is unknown. Cosimo de' Medici bought another five years later.[23] Amati died in 1684, an event
followed by a noticeable increase in Stradivari's production. The years 1684 and 1685 also marked an important
development in his style – the dimensions he used generally increased, and his instruments were more in the style of
Amati's work of the 1640s and 1650s.[24] Stradivari's instruments underwent no major change in the next five
years,[25] although in 1688 he began cutting a more distinct bevel and began outlining the heads of instruments in
black, a quite original improvement.[26]
Stradivari's early career is marked by wide experimentation, and his instruments during this period are generally
considered of a lesser quality than his later work.[27] However, the precision with which he carved the heads and
inserted the purfling quickly marked him as one of the most dextrous craftsmen in the world, a prime example of this
being the 1690 "Tuscan" violin.[28] Pre-1690 instruments are sometimes termed "Amatisé" but this is not completely
accurate; it is largely because Stradivari created many more instruments later on that people try to connect his early
work with Amati's style.[29]
Stradivari moved out of the Casa Nuziale by 1680, and purchased a house now known as No. 1 Piazza Roma
(formally No. 2 Piazza San Domenico). The house was just doors away from those of several other violin making
families of Cremona, including the Amatis and Guarneris.[30] Stradivari probably worked in the loft and attic, and he
Antonio Stradivari 3

stayed in this house for the rest of his life.[31] Stradivari's wife Francesca died on 20 May 1698, and received an
elaborate funeral five days later.[32]

"Golden" period and later years

In the early 1690s, Stradivari made a pronounced departure from this earlier style of instrument-making, changing
two key elements of his instruments. First, he began to make violins with a larger pattern than previous instruments,
which are usually dubbed "Long Strads".[33] He also switched to using a darker, richer varnish, as opposed to a
yellower varnish similar to that used by Amati.[34] He continued to use this pattern until 1698, with few exceptions.
After 1698, he abandoned the Long Strad model and returned to a slightly shorter model, which he used until his
death. The period from 1700 until the 1720s is often termed the "golden period" of his production.[35] Instruments
made during this time are usually considered of a higher quality than his earlier instruments. Late-period instruments
made from the late 1720s until his death in 1737 show signs of Stradivari's advancing age. These late instruments
may be a bit less beautiful than the Golden Period instruments, but many nonetheless possess a fine tone.
Stradivari married his second wife, Zambelli Costa, on 24 August 1699. They had five children from 1700 to
1708—Francesca Maria, Giovanni Battista Giuseppe, Giovanni Battista Martino, Giuseppe Antonio, and Paolo.
About 93 years old, Stradivari died on 18 December 1737. He is buried in the Church of San Domenico.[36]

Stradivarius instruments
Main article: Stradivarius
See also: List of Stradivarius instruments
Stradivari's instruments are regarded as
amongst the finest bowed stringed
instruments ever created, are highly prized,
and are still played by professionals today.
Only one other maker, Giuseppe Guarneri
del Gesù, commands a similar respect
among violinists. However, neither blind
listening tests nor acoustic analysis have
ever demonstrated that Stradivarius
instruments are better than other
high-quality instruments or even reliably
distinguishable from them.[37][38]

Fashions in music, as in other things, have Antonio Stradivari, by Edgar Bundy, 1893: a romanticized image of a
changed over the centuries, and the craftsman-hero
supremacy of Stradivari's and Guarneri's
instruments is accepted only today. In the past, instruments by Nicolò Amati and Jacob Stainer were preferred for
their subtle sweetness of tone.
While the usual label for a Stradivarius instrument, whether genuine or false, uses the traditional Latin inscription,
after the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, copies were also inscribed with the country of origin. Since thousands of
instruments are based on Stradivari's models and bear the same name as his models, many unwary people are
deceived into purchasing forged Stradivarius instruments, which can be avoided by having an instrument
authenticated.
Some violinists and cellists use Stradivari instruments in their work. Yo-Yo Ma currently uses the Davidov
Stradivarius, Julian Lloyd Webber employs the Barjansky Stradivarius,[39] and, until his death in 2007, Mstislav
Rostropovich played on the Duport Stradivarius.[40] The Soil of 1714 is owned by virtuoso Itzhak Perlman.[41] The
Antonio Stradivari 4

Countess Polignac is currently played by Gil Shaham.[42] The Vienna Philharmonic uses several Stradivari
instruments that were purchased by the National Bank of Austria and other sponsors: Chaconne, 1725;
ex-Hämmerle, 1709; ex-Smith-Quersin, 1714; ex-Arnold Rosé, ex-Viotti, 1718; and ex-Halphen, 1727.
The London sales of The Mendelssohn at £902,000 ($1,776,940) in 1990[43] and The Kreutzer for £947,500 in
1998[44] constitute two top-selling Stradivari. A record price paid at a public auction for a Stradivari was $2,032,000
for the Lady Tennant at Christie's in New York, April 2005. On 16 May 2006, Christie's auctioned Stradivari's 1707
Hammer for a new record of US$3,544,000.[45] On 2 April 2007, Christie's sold a Stradivari violin, the 1729
Solomon, Ex-Lambert, for more than $2.7 million to an anonymous bidder in the auction house's fine musical
instruments sale. Its price, US$2,728,000 including the Christie's commission, far outdid its estimated value:
$1 million to $1.5 million. On 14 October 2010, a 1697 Stradivari violin known as "The Molitor" was sold online by
Tarisio Auctions for a world-record price of $3,600,000 to renowned concert violinist Anne Akiko Meyers: at the
time it price was the highest for any musical instrument sold at auction. On 21 June 2011, a 1721 Stradivari violin
known as "Lady Blunt" was auctioned by Tarisio to an anonymous bidder for £9,808,000 with all proceeds going to
help the victims of the Japan earthquake. This was over four times the previous auction record for a Stradivari violin.
The c. 1705 Baron von der Leyen Strad was auctioned by Tarisio on April 26, 2012, for $2.6 million.
Publicly displayed collections of Stradivari instruments are those of the Library of Congress with three violins, a
viola, and a cello, the Agency of National Estates of Spain, with a quartet of two violins, the Spanish I and II, the
Spanish Court cello, and the Spanish Court viola, exhibited in the Music Museum at the Royal Palace of Madrid
(Palacio Real de Madrid]] and the Royal Academy of Music's Collections with several instruments by Antonio
Stradivari, including the Joachim (1698), Rutson (1694), the Crespi (1699), Viotti ex-Bruce (1709), Kustendyke
(1699), Maurin (1718) and the Ex Back (1666) violins, Ex Kux (1714), and the Archinto (1696) violas, the Marquis
de Corberon (1726) and the Markevitch (1709) celli. The Musée de la musique in Paris displays several beautiful
Stradivari instruments that formerly belonged to the Paris Conservatory.
The collection of The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra had the largest number of Stradivari in its string section,
purchased in 2003 from the collection of Herbert R. Axelrod, until it recentlyWikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and
numbers#Chronological items decided to sell them off. A collection assembled by Rodman Wanamaker in the 1920s
contained as many as 65 stringed instruments by such masters as Stradivari, Gofriller, Baptiste and Giuseppe
Guarneri. Included was The Swan, the last violin made by Stradivari,[46] and soloist instrument of the great Cuban
19th-century virtuoso Joseph White.[47] The collection, known as The Cappella, was used in concerts with the
Philadelphia Orchestra and Leopold Stokowski before being dispersed after Wanamaker's death. The Vienna
Philharmonic uses four violins and one cello. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has three Stradivari violins dated
1693,[48] 1694[49] and 1717.[50] The National Music Museum, in Vermillion, South Dakota, has in its collection one
of two known Stradivari guitars,[51] one of eleven known viola da gambas, later modified into a cello form, one of
two known choral mandolins, and one of six Stradivari violins that still retain their original neck. In the interests of
conservation, the Messiah Stradivarius violin—on display in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England—has not
been played at all in recent years.
Antonio Stradivari 5

In fiction
There are numerous references to Stradivari violins in fiction, including:
Literature
• In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, Sherlock Holmes owns and plays a Stradivari violin.[52][53]
Television
• The Jack Benny Program episode "The Stradivarius Story" featured violinist and then Oberlin music professor
Stuart Canin. (Years before, comedian Fred Allen had Canin, then age 10, appear on Allen's radio show; Allen
featured Canin as a better violinist than Benny.) Benny actually owned a Stradivarius violin, which was donated
to the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Benny's death.
• The Simpsons episode "Homer's Barbershop Quartet"
• Episode 36 of the anime series Detective School Q
• Episode "Pulling Strings" of White Collar
• Episode "The Scheherazade Job" of Leverage
• In an episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show, the duo destroy a Stradivarius violin worth £12,500.
Film
• The Living Daylights (1987)
• Stradivari, 1989 biopic directed by Giacomo Battiato, which starred Anthony Quinn as Antonio
• The Red Violin, inspired by one of Stradivari's violins, the Red Mendelssohn (1721)[54]
Video games
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance video game series
• Fallout 3: the player is tasked with retrieving the Soil Stradivarius (Itzhak Perlman's current violin) from a vault.

References
Notes
[1] Hill et al (1963), p. 3
[2] Fuller-Maitland et al (1922), p. 707
[3] Chapin, Anna Alice. The Heart of Music: The Story of the Violin. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1921. 268.
[4] Hill et al (1963), p. 4
[5] Hill et al (1963), p. 6
[6] Pollens (2010), p. 11
[7] Pollens (2010), p. 12
[8] Faber (2006), p. 26
[9] Faber (2006) p. 25
[10] Hill et al (1963), p. 27
[11] Hill et al (1963), p. 26
[12] Hill et al (1963), p. 25
[13] Faber (2006), p. 27
[14] Hill et al (1963), p. 28
[15] Hill et al (1963), p. 8
[16] Faber (2006), p. 28
[17] Hill et al (1963), p. 10
[18] Fuller-Maitland et al (1922), p. 708
[19] Hill et al (1963), p. 33
[20] Hill et al (1963), p. 34
[21] Pollens (2010), p. 16
[22] Hill et al (1963) pp. 36–37
[23] Faber (2006), p. 41
[24] Hill et al (1963), pp. 37–38
[25] Hill et al (1963), p. 39
[26] Hill et al (1963), p. 40
Antonio Stradivari 6

[27] Faber (2006), pp. 29–30

[28] Hill et al (1963), p. 41
[29] Petherick (1900), p. 13
[30] Pollens (2010), p. 22
[31] Hill et al (1963), p. 12. A visit to the loft is described by H.R. Haweis, My Musical Life (1892), pp.322-328 (https:/ / archive. org/ stream/
mymusicallife00haweuoft#page/ 322/ mode/ 2up).
[32] Pollens (2010), p. 26
[33] Hill et al (1963), p. 149
[34] Hill et al (1963), p. 45
[35] Hart (1875), p. 131
[36] Faber (2006), p. 59
[37] "Violinists can't tell the difference between Stradivarius violins and new ones" (http:/ / blogs. discovermagazine. com/ notrocketscience/
2012/ 01/ 02/ violinists-can’t-tell-the-difference-between-stradivarius-violins-and-new-ones/ ) by Ed Yong, Discover, January 2, 2012.
[38] "Player preferences among new and old violins" (http:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1073/ pnas. 1114999109), Fritz, Curtin, Poitevineau, et al. PNAS
2011.
[39] Woodstra, Chris, Brennan, Gerald & Allen Schrott (eds.) All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music.
Berkeley, CA: All Media Guide, 2005. 758. ISBN 0-87930-865-6
[40] Libbey, Ted. The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection, Second Edition. New York: Workman, 1999. 309. ISBN
0-7611-0487-9
[41] Kalbacker, Warren. "The Rotarian Conversation: Itzhak Perlman." The Rotarian 188.5 (November 2009): 48–51.
[42] 21st Century Violinists. San Anselmo, CA: String Letter Publishing, 1999. 96. ISBN 1-890490-26-1
[43] Granata, Charles L. Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording. Chicago, IL: A Capella, 2004. 126. ISBN 1-55652-509-5
[44] Lee, Laura. The Name's Familiar II. Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2001. 199. ISBN 1-56554-822-1
[45] Klein, Ellery. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Fiddle. New York: Alpha Books, 2008. 23. ISBN 978-1-59257-768-2
[46] Malan, Roy. Efrem Zimbalist: A Life. Pompton Plains, NJ: Amadeus, 2004. 176. ISBN 1-57467-091-3
[47] Bachmann, Alberto Abraham. An Encyclopedia of the Violin. Da Capo Press, 1966. 411. ISBN 0-306-80004-7
[48] "Violin, 1693" (http:/ / www. metmuseum. org/ toah/ ho/ 09/ eustn/ ho_55. 86a-c. htm), "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History", Metropolitan
Museum of Art, accessed February 2, 2011.
[49] "Violin: "The Francesca," 1694" (http:/ / www. metmuseum. org/ toah/ hd/ strd/ ho_34. 86. 2. htm), "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History",
Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed 2011-02-02.
[50] "Violin: "The Antonius," 1717" (http:/ / www. metmuseum. org/ toah/ hd/ strd/ ho_34. 86. 1. htm), "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History",
Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed February 2, 2011.
[51] Hunhoff, Bernie. South Dakota Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Guildford, CT: Insiders' Guide,
2007. 171. ISBN 978-0-7627-4336-0
[52] http:/ / www. sherlock-holmes. com/ featur5. htm
[53] Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box". In The Original Illustrated 'Strand' Sherlock Holmes. Wordsworth
Editions. 307–319. ISBN 1-85326-896-8.
[54] Klein, Ellery. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Playing the Fiddle. New York: Alpha Books, 2008. ISBN 978-1-59257-768-2

Sources
• Faber, Toby (2006). Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection.
New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-76085-7.
• Fuller-Maitland, John Alexander; Grove, George; Pratt, Waldo Selden (1922). "Stradivari, Antonio" (http://
books.google.com/books?id=5vRLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA707#v=onepage&q&f=false). Grove's Dictionary of
Music and Musicians 4. Philadelphia: Theodore Presser Company. pp. 707–712. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
• Hart, George (1875). The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (http://books.google.com/
books?id=qzEDAAAAQAAJ). London: Dulau. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
• Haweis, Hugh Reginald (1898). My Musical Life. London: Longman's, Green & Co.
• Henly, W (1961). Antonio Stradivari: Master Luthier. Brighton: Amati Publishing.
• Hill, W. Henry; Hill, Arthur F; Hill, Alfred E (1963). Antonio Stradivari: His Life & Work. New York: Dover
Publications. ISBN 0-486-20425-1.
• Petherick, Horace (1900). Antonio Stradivari. New York: Scribner.
• Pigaillem, Henri (2001). Stradivarius: sa vie, ses instruments. Paris: Zurfluh.
• Pollens, Stewart (2010). Stradivari. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-87304-8.
Antonio Stradivari 7

External links
• Media related to Antonio Stradivari at Wikimedia Commons
• Nippon Music Foundation (http://www.nmf.or.jp/english/)
• Stradivari Society (http://www.stradivarisociety.com/)
• Violin Making at The Violin Site (http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin_making/index.html)
• The National Music Museum (http://www.usd.edu/smm/)
• Real Conservatorio Superior de Música[[Category:Articles containing Spanish-language text (http://www.
educa.madrid.org/web/csm.realconservatorio.madrid/)], Madrid]
• Information on Antonio Stradivari (http://www.stradivari.de)
• Antonius Stradivarius (http://www.stradivaribooks.com/)
• Archivio della liuteria cremonese[[Category:Articles containing Italian-language text (http://www.
archiviodellaliuteriacremonese.it/)]]
Articles
• Secrets of the Stradivari (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=secrets-of-the-stradivari)
• Wali, Kameshwar C. (Spring 2000). "William F. Fry: A Physicist's Quest for the "Secrets" of Stradivari" (http://
digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=HTML&rgn=div1&byte=1667735858). Wisconsin
Academy Review 46 (2).
• Cremona Violins – A Physicist's Quest for the Secrets of Stradivari (http://www.worldscibooks.com/physics/
6728.html) by Kameshwar C Wali – Preface (http://www.worldscibooks.com/etextbook/6728/6728_preface.
pdf), Chapter 1 (http://www.worldscibooks.com/etextbook/6728/6728_chap01.pdf)
• Digital Stradivari: computer models of violins reveal master luthier's techniques (http://blog.americanhistory.si.
edu/osaycanyousee/2009/11/digital-stradivari-computer-models-of-violins-reveal-master-luthiers-techniques.
html), 13 November 2009
• Kestenbaum, David, "Is A Stradivarius Just A Violin?" (http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/05/16/
313099219/is-a-stradivarius-just-a-violin?sc=tw), NPR, May 16, 2014
Historical books
• Antoine Stradivari, luthier célèbre connu sous le nom de Stradivarius (http://books.google.com/
books?id=bNwPAAAAYAAJ) By François-Joseph Fétis, Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume
Article Sources and Contributors 8

Article Sources and Contributors

Antonio Stradivari Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=619847431 Contributors: 2T, A.Ou, Abolen, Abrech, Admrboltz, Akasanof, Aldishopper92, Amati62, Anaxial, Andonic,
Andrewa, Andrewlim1, Antandrus, Arman Cagle, Attilios, Bazonka, Bemoeial, BenWhitey, Bender235, Bgwhite, Bill Thayer, BillFlis, BobH2O, Bobo192, Bollyjeff, Bradeos Graphon, C1010,
CA387, CFCF, Cavarrone, Celithemis, Chenopodiaceous, Chienlit, Chris the speller, Chrisdees, Cobain, ColoradoSprings, Corixidae, D6, Danjewell, Dawizardi, Deb, Delboy666, DellGesu,
Deltabeignet, Demicx, DemocraticLuntz, Dimator, Dirrival, Discographer, Discospinster, Downwards, Drutt, Dubc0724, Duchess of Bathwick, Eaglizard, Ebdòmero, Ebehn, Editor510,
Eebahgum, Eeekster, Eisnel, Emerson7, Emoll, Error -128, Eskogs, Favonian, FeanorStar7, Ferretsnarf, Fiziker, Flyte35, Focus, FoeNyx, FordPrefect42, Francis Ocoma, Frecklefoot,
FrederickRupert, Fredrik, Fruit.Smoothie, Frupert1, Fstanchina, Gabbe, Ginsuloft, GoingBatty, Grafoart, Graham87, GrahamColm, Halvard, Hattermadder, Henning Makholm, Hmains, Hotlorp,
InfernoXV, IrishStephen, J.delanoy, JASpencer, Jabx97, Jackfork, Jaysweet, Jejwood, JeremyLydellHaugen, JerryFriedman, Jerzy, Ji plug pu melon nai, Jihoon796, Jim1138, JimmycurN, Jla1,
John of Reading, Josh3580, Juzeris, Jwsuh99, Karch, Karljoos, Katzenjammer, Kbdank71, Kenb215, Kgbo, Klojin, Kremona, Kylu, Laoo, Lee1963, Lesnail, Lethesl, Lightmouse, Maksim L.,
Male1979, Marcika, Mark Arsten, Materialscientist, McSmit, Mccarcass, Mdriver1981, MegX, Metao, Michael Bednarek, Michaeltmccorkle, Mifter Public, Milliot, Minority Report, Mjmcb1,
Moneychoker, Mostlyt, Mowplsu, Mschlindwein, Msgodf, Mtirrell38, Musicaficta, Mytwocents, Nbauman, Nevilley, NewEnglandYankee, NickShaforostoff, NielsenGW, Nightscream, Ninniuz,
Nunocordeiro, OccultZone, Ohconfucius, Omnipaedista, Orpheus, Overkill82, PBS-AWB, Paolo Ferla, Paradiso, Pascalou petit, Pb30, Peterlin, Pgrote, Philip Trueman, Pizza's Best Friend,
Porraman, Prodego, PuzzletChung, R'n'B, RJHall, Ramskjell, Ransack, Rculatta, Rich Farmbrough, RichardVeryard, Ricky81682, Rjensen, Rjwilmsi, Rodwac, Roger.gibbs555, Rrburke,
Rune.welsh, Scchiang, ScienceReader, Scoopc, Shawnc, Shexxehbeast2, SimpsonDG, Sjö, Slarti88, Smfairlie, Sonyack, Sp33dyphil, Speedoflight, Spinmove29, Sterio, Stradfan, StradivariusTV,
Stradiverius, SuzanneIAM, Swanstone, TYLER, Tad Lincoln, Tbhotch, Tchlouis, Tell someone, The Man in Question, Thorwald, Tide rolls, Ugog Nizdast, Vgy7ujm, Violachick68, VirtualRash,
Waacstats, Walter Breitzke, Wetman, Widr, Wikiklrsc, Wilful, Ynhockey, Yongxinge, Zumir, Æthelwold, 396 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Antonio stradivari.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Antonio_stradivari.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Clusternote, Focus, G.dallorto, Husky,
Minerv, Mu, Red devil 666, Thuresson
File:Cremona centro.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Cremona_centro.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Bensch, Denniss, Finizio, Mac9, Sailko
File:Stradivari house.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stradivari_house.png License: Public Domain Contributors: Adrignola, Focus
File:stradshp.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Stradshp.jpg License: unknown Contributors: ErikvanB, G.dallorto, Hekerui, Husky, Mattes, Parlagreco, Wmpearl, 1
anonymous edits
file:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Commons-logo.svg License: logo Contributors: Anomie

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
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