Signed receipt, headed "Mr. Geminiani's Account / Books subscribed for by Mrs. Doppings & Mrs. Barry," listing three books at 10s. 6d. (£1 11s. 6d.), two books at 13s. (£1 6s.), and three sold by Mr. Manwaring "with allowance for sale" (£1 11s.), for a total of £4 8s. 6d. Dated June 15, 1751, and signed at the foot: "Rec'd the above account / F. Geminiani." Light toning and soiling, lower edge slightly uneven, else very good. 8.25 x 7.25 inches ; 21x 18 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's May 25, 2001 L01315, lot 88.
Francesco Geminiani was one of the most important composers of instrumental music in the first half of the eighteenth century. He is best known for his sonatas for violin and figured bass and his concertos for string ensembles, but he also composed music for other instrumental combinations and for harpsichord. Astonishingly, only a single surviving autograph letter by the Italian Baroque composer and violinist is known; the present signed receipt is of the greatest rarity.
A pupil of Corelli, Geminiani spent most of his career in London and Dublin. The Mr. Manwaring named here is likely of the Manwaring family of Dublin music sellers and publishers, and the books are presumably Geminiani's own publications; 1751 saw the London publication of his celebrated treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin.
Signed receipt, headed "Mr. Geminiani's Account / Books subscribed for by Mrs. Doppings & Mrs. Barry," listing three books at 10s. 6d. (£1 11s. 6d.), two books at 13s. (£1 6s.), and three sold by Mr. Manwaring "with allowance for sale" (£1 11s.), for a total of £4 8s. 6d. Dated June 15, 1751, and signed at the foot: "Rec'd the above account / F. Geminiani." Light toning and soiling, lower edge slightly uneven, else very good. 8.25 x 7.25 inches ; 21x 18 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's May 25, 2001 L01315, lot 88.
Francesco Geminiani was one of the most important composers of instrumental music in the first half of the eighteenth century. He is best known for his sonatas for violin and figured bass and his concertos for string ensembles, but he also composed music for other instrumental combinations and for harpsichord. Astonishingly, only a single surviving autograph letter by the Italian Baroque composer and violinist is known; the present signed receipt is of the greatest rarity.
A pupil of Corelli, Geminiani spent most of his career in London and Dublin. The Mr. Manwaring named here is likely of the Manwaring family of Dublin music sellers and publishers, and the books are presumably Geminiani's own publications; 1751 saw the London publication of his celebrated treatise The Art of Playing on the Violin.