Amati > Makers Archive > Francesco RUGERI (RUGGIERI)

Francesco RUGERI (RUGGIERI)

Highest auction price

£158,042

Auction price history

Type	Details	Sold	Price
Violin	Labelled Giacinto Ruggeri detto il Per in Cremona 1690	Fri 1st March 2024	£132,000
Violin	35.1 cm Cremona, 1670 c.	Fri 1st October 2010	£118,918
Violin	34.4 cm Cremona, 1680 c. [Lit. & with Provenance]	Thu 1st April 2010	£157,120
Violin	35.1 cm Cremona, early 18th C. [Probably by]	Wed 1st October 2008	£6,250
Violin	34.8 cm (restorable condition) [Ascribed to]	Tue 1st May 2007	£20,162
Violin	35.2 cm 1680 c. [Probably by]	Wed 1st November 2006	£30,073
Violin	35.5 cm Cremona, 1700 c.	Wed 1st November 2006	£13,200
Violin	35.5 cm Cremona, 1700 c. (table and scroll later)	Wed 1st November 2006	£15,600
Violin	35.2 cm	Sun 1st October 2006	£18,390
Violin	35.4 cm Cremona, 1700 c.	Sat 1st July 2006	£31,200
Violin	34.3 cm Cremona, 1694	Mon 1st May 2006	£95,648
Cello	76.0 cm Cremona, 1687 (later head)	Wed 1st February 2006	£98,400
Violin	1670 c.	Sun 1st May 2005	£84,000
Violin	Cremona, 1673 c.	Fri 1st October 2004	£71,917
Violin	Italy, c. 1700 [Attributed to]	Mon 1st March 2004	£54,000
Violin	1685	Tue 1st July 2003	£100,800
Violin	1698	Thu 1st November 2001	£111,500
Cello	1685	Fri 1st June 2001	£117,000
Violin	1675 (composite)	Fri 1st June 2001	£40,750
Violin	1697	Tue 1st May 2001	£158,042
Violin	34.4 cm 1694	Wed 1st November 2000	£52,250
Violin	1650	Wed 1st March 2000	£40,000
Violin	1660 c.	Sun 1st November 1998	£90,600
Violin	1685 c.	Sat 1st March 1997	£60,900
Cello	1706	Fri 1st November 1996	£115,000
Cello	1690	Wed 1st June 1994	£54,300
Violin	16--	Thu 1st March 1990	£49,500
Cello	1667	Wed 1st November 1989	£88,000
Violin	1677	Wed 1st November 1989	£71,500
Violin	1650-99	Tue 1st November 1988	£48,400
Cello	1684	Wed 1st June 1988	£44,000
Violin	1673	Sat 1st March 1986	£22,000
Violin	1690 c.	Thu 1st November 1984	£33,000
Violin	1700	Fri 1st June 1984	£21,185
Cello	1670 c.	Fri 1st June 1984	£35,088
Cello	1680	Wed 1st June 1983	£27,500
Violin	1690	Mon 1st November 1982	£22,000
Cello	1690	Mon 1st November 1982	£19,800
Cello	1674	Thu 1st April 1982	£28,600
Violin	1696	Thu 1st May 1980	£29,700

Biographies

John Dilworth Cecie Stainer George Hart Willibald Leo Lütgendorff Henri Poidras Karel Jalovec

John Dilworth

RUGERI (RUGGIERI), Francesco Born 1620, died 1698 Cremona Italy. Known as ‘Il Per’ on his labels. Previously assumed to have been a pupil of Amati but archival and stylistic research suggests otherwise. His workshop developed separately from Amati, and certain features – his use of maple rather than poplar purfling, and the lack of the central back pin observed in the work of all other makers of the Amati school – suggest less direct contact than was previously thought. There is a stronger case to be made that he was himself the first teacher of Stradivari. A prolific maker, nonetheless his own dated labels only appear after c.1670, and it may well be that earlier work had been sold unlabelled, or falsely labelled as the work of Amati. In 1685 a violinist in Modena made a formal complaint that the violin he had bought for 12 pistoles as made by Amati turned out to be a Rugeri worth only three pistoles. His work is very fine, and indeed easily mistaken for that of Nicolò Amati. Only the slightly more slender soundholes, with small circular finials, and the distinctive head make obvious distinctions. The undercut of the scroll remains very flat around the first turn, but becomes very deep at the eye, while the whole volute has a slight ovality along its horizontal axis. Arching of a medium height, slightly pinched, with very fine golden-brown varnish. Materials can be very variable. His cellos are very important. He was amongst the very first Cremonese or Italian makers to explore the smaller 29” (74cm) model, and made a considerable number of extremely fine instruments; full-arched, often with plain willow backs, but some of extremely handsome maple. These instruments help compensate for the rarity of genuine Amati cellos. Francesco Ruggieri detto il Per / Cremona, 1673 [Chiesa]

George Hart

Surnamed “II Per.” * The family of Ruggeri long occupied a foremost Place in the City of Cremona as makers of Violins, Violas, and Violoncellos. Their position could have been but little if at all inferior to that of the Amati family. Francesco, in his earliest works, gives evidence of exceptional artistic feeling, and the sequel of his career, as evidenced by his productions, is a genuine development of the first impulse of his genius. His work belongs to the school of Amati, but though the list of instruments which he has bequeathed to us be a long one, there is no sign of his ever having been a mere copyist. He evidently thought for himself. His sound-hole is a beautiful piece of workmanship, and may be said to come between that of Niccolo Amati and Stradivari, being of the most delicate execution. The outline of his work is very graceful and the arching admirable. The scroll has quite an equal merit with the body. He was very successful in selecting his material, much of which is handsome. His varnish, thoroughly Cremonese in character, and of a most beautiful hue, may be equalled, but never surpassed. This maker also knew how to use his varnish. There is no instance in which it has been laid on in clumsy patches ; the surface is always true and even, and, in consequence, the brilliancy of its appearance is perfect. Lancetti remarks, ” Francesco Ruggeri was a pupil of Niccolo Amati, and perhaps a more exact imitator of his instruments than G. B. Ruggeri; and made several instruments beautifully finished, and which are not easily distinguished from those of his master.” Count Cozio possessed a fine Violin by Francesco, dated 1684, and the Marquis Castiglioni also possessed one made in the same year. Francesco Ruggeri died at the house No. 7, Contrada Coltellai, Cremona. * I am informed “II Per” was unquestionably a nickname, and may have been given to an older member of the family on account of a peculiarity in introducing the word per in conversation, as we introduce ” because,” ” certainly,” &c.