(Giovanni) Francesco. STRADIVARI

Son of Antonio Stradivari; b Feb. 1, 1671, Cremona; d. May 11, 1743. Was a pupil of his father and worked in his workshop until Antonio's death; he then continued to work with his brother Omobono. He made several violins and violas, in which he placed his own label, from about 1725 to 1740; his work shows the excellent school in which he had been trained, and has genuine merit, but is much inferior to that of his father. The varnish is very beautiful, though quite different from that of Antonio, it is of brownish hue; the scroll is heavy, the work not very carefully finished, but the tone rich and penetrating. Label : " Franciscus Stradivarius Cremonensis filius Antonii faciebat, anno 1742."