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Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsman From Italy to New York
Appendix: Collecting Fine Italian Violins At the Metropolitan Museum of Art
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New York City and nearby New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County have been home to a vibrant Italian American population since the late nineteenth century. Within this community, a remarkable tradition of lutherie (stringed-instrument making) has flourished. Italian American craftsmen have produced an enormous variety of musical instruments, from traditional European-style violins, mandolins, and guitars to newer American instruments such as archtop guitars and mandolins and even electric guitars. Since the 1930s, makers from this tradition in the New York region have become especially well known for their extraordinary archtop guitars. This exhibition examines the work of three remarkable craftsmen from this heritage—John D'Angelico, James D'Aquisto, and John Monteleone—their place in the extended context of Italian and Italian American instrument making, and the inspiration of the sights and sounds of New York City.
C. F. Martin & Co.
Date: 1867–98Accession Number: 1983.348
David Tecchler (Austrian, Salzburg 1666–1747 Rome)
Date: ca. 1725Accession Number: 1988.87
Andrea Amati (Italian, Cremona ca. 1505–1578 Cremona)
Date: ca. 1560Accession Number: 1999.26
Attributed to Giacomo (Jacob) Ertel (German, ca. 1646–1711 Rome)
Date: late 17th centuryAccession Number: 1984.225
Angelo Mannello (American, Morcone, Italy 1858–1922 New York)
Date: 1900Accession Number: 1972.111.2a, b
Date: ca. 1900Accession Number: 1972.111.1a-c
Nicòla Turturro (American, Bitonto, Italy 1872–1953 New York)
Date: ca. 1905Accession Number: 1975.357.1
