Italian scrolls and other carved art works..

A perfectly carved Italian violin scroll is an impressive sight, to be sure. Antonio Stradivarius is rightly acclaimed for his achievements!

But consider the much earlier work of Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi, known in the art world as "Donatello" (1386-1466). He accomplished perfection in marble:

Donatello's  "St George"

bronze:

 Donatello's "David", symbol of Florence.

and especially  polychromed wood:

Donatello's "Mary  Magdalene"

Visit the Florence, Italy,  museum Palazzo del Bargello for these most impressive works! Donatello's patron was Cosimo di Medici and I am sure he would have asked his artist for a few violins if they had been introduced to Italy 100 years earlier!

Background..

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargello
www.museumsofflorence.com/museum_of_Bargello.html

More violin history will follow...