FOCUS: A dendrochronological investigation of stringed instruments of the Cremonese School (1666-1757) including 'The Messiah' violin attributed to Antonio Stradivari

A dendrochronological investigation of 33 violins made in Cremona during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, including 20 violins by Antonio Stradivari was carried out. After cross-matching data from these instruments an Italian Instrument Master Chronology (IIMC21) was constructed that allowed the authors to date the spruce fronts of 21 of the instruments with reference to southern Alpine chronologies. One of the instruments that were successfully dated was the violin known as The Messiah. This violin has been attributed to Stradivari but its authenticity has frequently been challenged and a later date of manufacture proposed. This investigation has demonstrated that the terminus post quem for the front of this violin is 1682 and is therefore consistent with the attributed date of manufacture (1716). In addition the Messiah showed a highly significant cross-match with two undisputed Stradivari violins of the same period. The dendrochronological analysis presented here therefore supports the attribution of this violin to Antonio Stradivari.