Vincenzo Rugeri (30 September 1663 – 4 May 1719) (also known as Ruger, Rugier, Rugieri, Ruggeri, Ruggieri, Ruggerius), was an Italian luthier of string instruments such as violins, cellos, and, violas in Cremona, Italy. His instruments are noted for their craftsmanship and tone quality. Vincenzo came from a distinguished family of luthiers, the first of whom was his father, Francesco Rugeri. Despite the local tradition of artisan families laboring together through generations, Vincenzo left the family shop and set up a successful shop of his own in the center of Cremona. Vincenzo was the third son of luthier Francesco Rugeri. Vincenzo's work, like Francesco's, is influenced by Nicolò Amati's Grand Pattern model, however Vincenzo's work was distinguished from his father's by utilizing a lower arch inspired by Antonio Stradivari. An analysis of the body of his work reveals that the quality of Vincenzo's instruments is remarkable, perhaps even more so than his father's. Vincenzo's instruments, though less numerous, are valued at least equal to those of his father. A violin by Vincenzo Rugeri realized $502,320 on October 3, 2011 at Brompton's Auctions in London. Carlo Bergonzi was a distinguished apprentice of Vincenzo Rugeri.
Early life
Vincenzo Rugeri was born just outside of the city limits of Cremona, Italy in the Parish of San Bernardo on 30 September 1663. By the age of apprenticeship, he was working alongside his two older brothers, Giovanni Battista Rugeri (2 July 1653 – 14 December 1711) and Giacinto Rugeri (15 May 1661 – 2 June 1697) assisting in their father's shop. Some instruments purported to be by Francesco Rugeri are actually the work of Vincenzo. All the brothers were capable workmen, ably assisting in the workshop, however it was only Vincenzo who later enjoyed individual success as a luthier and further developed the Rugeri style. By 1687, Francesco had acquired land and a home closer to the city of Cremona in the Parish of San Sebastiano next to the beautiful Convent of San Sigismondo. Vincenzo likely followed the family to San Sebastiano and lived there until 1689 when he married. Even though Vincenzo's youngest brother, Carlo Rugeri (1666–1713) inherited Francesco's tools relating to "violins, guitars, violoni, and calascioni," Carlo does not appear to have been significantly involved with the family's violin shop based on the extremely rare instruments that are attributed to him.
Career
By 1690, Vincenzo Rugeri had married, left the family shop, and opened his own shop in the northwest side of Cremona. Rugeri prospered as an independent violin maker in his own right despite competition with the Stradivari and Guarneri families. His productions date from about 1680–1717. His confirmed works are based on the Nicolo Amati Grand Pattern model combined with a more tonally advanced lower arch. His work is characterized by a high standard of conception and workmanship and the maple wood he employed for the backs was often of fine foreign growth. Rugeri used a transparent varnish ranging in color from orange to red, or brown later in his career. This varnish recipe seems to be congruent with certain of Antonio Stradivari's late instruments and those of Carlo Bergonzi. The treatment of the channel around the edges of his instruments shows less scooping than other makers of the period. Some of Rugeri's instruments include original "wings" of maple in the backs. His F-holes, while Amati-like, have narrower upright stems and an upright upper curve.
A look at one of Vincenzo’s violin, the “Baron Knoop”, from circa 1700 shows that the Vincenzo based this instrument off of the Grand Amati model from the Cremonese school. This violin, like many of Vincenzo's instruments, is made of foreign maple, with an orange-brown transparent varnish with features flatter arches with fuller edges. The soundholes that the Rugeri family used distinguishes them from other Cremonese makers- they were often stiffer, or more narrow and the curves were more upright than the Amati.