Merchant

More than a simple anthology, this book is a documentary map of the Stradivari myth. A tool to understand how history, criticism, press, and imagination transformed a luthier into a legend. 'The Mystery of Stradivari' is a unique work that offers a fascinating journey into the historical and cultural construction of the myth of Antonio Stradivari. Through a selection of photographic extracts from vintage documents — articles, essays, publications, catalogs, and rare materials — the volume shows how the figure of the famous Cremonese luthier became, between 1872 and 1937, an icon of music and Italian cultural identity. The project originates from the private collection of Luca Bastiani, luthier and scholar of the history of violin making, and was later enriched thanks to collaboration with Francesco Toto, also a luthier. This partnership gave rise to the Bastiani Toto Collection, a rare and coherent documentary fund representing a unique testimony, the result of years of research, passion, and philological care. Over 400 pages, this illustrated volume with color photographic reproductions presents selected extracts from original documents. Introduction and Preface in Italian and English; all documentary extracts in Italian, reproduced from original sources of the period (1872–1937). Edited by Luca Bastiani Collection: Bastiani Toto Published by Luca Bastiani Liutaio Year of publication: 2025