Nicolas Lupot (1758-1824)
Myrthe plays a Nicolas Lupot violin from the late 18th century. Lupot is known as the “French Stradivarius,” not only because of his superior finesse and skill as a maker but also due to the striking stylistic similarities between his violins and those of Stradivarius. The influence of Stradivarius can be seen early on in Lupot’s instruments, and once he began working in Paris, he had ample opportunity to study and imitate the violins of the Cremonese master. In 1813, he was appointed violin maker to Napoleon’s Imperial Chapel. Notable students of Lupot included Bernardel and the famous violin maker Vuillaume, who copied Lupot’s models and followed in his footsteps.

Year of Construction
This violin is from either 1793 or 1798. The uncertainty about the exact year is due to the fact that the label inside the violin has faded slightly over the past two centuries. As a result, the last digit of the year has become open to interpretation. Does this matter? Coincidentally, with Nicolas Lupot’s violins, it does when it comes to the instrument’s value. Appraisers distinguish between Lupot violins from his Orléans period and those made after he moved to Paris, which happened definitively in 1796. While this difference affects the violin’s appraised value, it does not affect the quality of the instrument at all. This makes this violin such a remarkable find.

The Most Beautiful Violin
Myrthe on the Lupot: “I’ve played many instruments in my life, but only now do I feel like I’ve found my soulmate. The first time I played this Lupot was magical, and I had to think of the story from Harry Potter: it’s not the wizard who chooses the wand but the wand that chooses the wizard. This Lupot is a brilliant violin—large, bold, but also very sweet and poetic. It has incredible qualities, can rise above an entire orchestra effortlessly, and moves you when touched with just a single horsehair.”

Crowdfunding
Purchasing such a remarkable violin is a long process for a musician. To raise the final funds, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched. Would you like to support Myrthe so she can continue playing this beautiful violin? Click here to go directly to the crowdfunding page. Watch the video below to hear the Lupot, played by Myrthe.