Front view of a golden-brown violin with f-holes and decorative corner inlays on a grey background.

Violin attributed to Nicolò Amati, known as the "King Louis XIV", 1656

A varnished violin shown frontally against a grey background, with a golden-brown top, f-holes, a dark fingerboard, and inlaid purfling with small decorative corner ornaments. The scroll is not visible, and the wood shows warm amber tones with subtle grain.

Artist: Amati
Date: 1656
Medium: spruce (overall material) maple (overall material)
Source: Smithsonian (National Museum of American History)
Size: 1783 × 2670 px

Download full size

Public domain · Smithsonian (National Museum of American History) releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1656).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (Smithsonian Open Access)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History

17th century 1650s 1656 inlay musical instruments violin string instrument varnished wood gray background