Alessandro D' Espine

D'ESPINE, Alessandro Born 1782 Plainpalais, Geneva Switzerland, died 1855 Pinerolo, nr. Turin Italy. An important founder member of the later Turin school, his very classically influenced work appeared from 1815. Joined shortly afterwards by J. F. Pressenda, Turin became established as a premier centre for new Italian work based primarily on careful interpretations of Stradivari models. He belonged to an aristocratic family, and his career, and that of his brother, was firstly as a dental surgeon appointed to King Carlo Felice 1820-1831. In 1816 he is mentioned in the notebooks compiled by Count Cozio di Salabue, and it appears that he was then a pupil of Gaetano Guadagnini who in this early period was varnishing D�Espine�s work for him. He later received assistance from J. F. Pressenda. He was absent from Turin between 1832 and 1851, possibly because of obligations in his professional life as a dentist. He returned only briefly to Turin itself, moving to Pinerolo, some 40 km to the south-west, where he died. His work is highly celebrated and valued, but is the rarest of the admirable 19th century Turin school; it is far rarer than many dealers would admit, and considering his other career as the King�s dentist, this is not surprising. The connection between the two crafts may not be as bizarre as it may seem; the eighteenth century English maker William Pryor also advertised his services as a maker of false teeth, the cheaper sorts being fashioned from hardwood. Workmanship very fine; strong outline, very classically proportioned, derived from Stradivari. Some show modest Guarnerian inflections in the treatment of the soundholes. Broad flat edges and rather short corners. Materials generally of first quality. Varnish variable; can be occasionally thick dark and oily, but more often thin and close to the wood, red or red-brown in colour. Alessandrus d'Espine fecit / Taurini anno Domini 1828 [Kass]