Francesco Rugeri's violins are inspired by Nicolo Amati's "Grand Amati" pattern.
17 Facts About Francesco Rugeri
1.
2.
Francesco Rugeri was the first to develop a smaller cello design, which has become the standard for modern cello dimensions.
3.
Today, Francesco Rugeri's instruments are nearly as renowned as Nicolo Amati's instruments.
4.
The Francesco Rugeri family is not to be confused with the Rogeri family of Brescia who were noted luthiers following the tradition of Amati.
5.
Francesco Rugeri was perhaps the earliest apprentice of Nicolo Amati, another important luthier in Cremona, Italy, although other sources call this association into question as there is no census record showing his presence in the Amati household.
6.
Francesco Rugeri later had another son whom he named Giacinto, who was born in 1661.
7.
Some researchers believe there is a closer educational association between Antonio Stradivari and Francesco Rugeri than has previously been recognized.
8.
The Francesco Rugeri family included the words "il Per" or "detto il Per" in their labels.
9.
Francesco Rugeri lived and worked just outside of the walls of Cremona, Italy, in the Parishes of San Bernardo at No 7 Contrada Coltellai; later, by 1687, he had moved to the Parish of San Sebastiano.
10.
Francesco Rugeri's success peaked after Nicolo Amati's decline and before the rise of the workshop of Antonio Stradivari.
11.
Francesco Rugeri's violins were characterized by a high level of craftsmanship and a very slightly higher arch.
12.
The Rugeri tradition was carried on and developed by Francesco's son Vincenzo Rugeri, the only one of his sons to later have an independent successful career as a luthier.
13.
Some instruments purported to be by Francesco Rugeri are actually the work of Vincenzo.
14.
Instruments created by Francesco Rugeri are highly desirable owing to their high level of craftsmanship and tone.
15.
Francesco Rugeri was the first to make cellos smaller than what was usual in his time.
16.
Francesco Rugeri's cello is 4 inches smaller than cellos made by other Cremonese luthiers of the same period, namely, Amati and Stradivari.
17.
Francesco Rugeri married Ippolito Ravasi in 1652 in the Church of San Bernardo.