The decorated violin is now in the hands of baroque violinist Lucy Russell
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A uniquely decorated violin by luthier Roger Hansell has been loaned to baroque violinist Lucy Russell.
The violin, made in the early 1980s, is finely decorated with flowers, ivy and dew drops in the style of Coenraet Roepel, one of the Dutch old master painters.
Hansell previously studied fine arts before turning his hand to lutherie, combining his violin making skills and decorative creativity.
’I have known Roger for decades and always been an admirer of his tremendous skill as a luthier,’ said Russell, who is violinist of the Fitzwilliam Quartet and professor of historical violin at the Royal College of Music in London.
’I have long harboured a secret desire to have the opportunity to play and perform, and possibly one day, record, on this stunning violin. It is hard to credit that a violin can be both beautifully crafted in itself and painted so exquisitely!’
The Painted Violin was first played in public in the Barbican Haydn Quartet Festival in the 1980s and will now be brought to public audiences once again. ’I thought the time was right for the violin to be shared with others so that it can be both seen and heard to provide pleasure to many people in Lucy’s audiences,’ said Hansell.
’I was aware of Lucy’s wonderful playing and relished the thought of the violin being associated with her.’
Hansell can be contacted at Hansell Violins Ltd: roger@hansellviolins.com. Find out more at his website: www.hansellviolins.com
All images courtesy Roger Hansell
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