Instrument Type: Violin
Circa: 2017
Asking Price: SOLD
Maker: Eric Benning
The Violin
Eric Benning made this Il Cannone violin in Los Angeles in 2017. It was his latest copy of the ‘Paganini’ Guarneri del Gesu of 1742. He built it as a tribute to that maker and to that violin in particular. Bosnian maple from the 1920s forms the back, sides and scroll. The top is Northern Italian spruce from the same period.
The sound is rich and powerful. It is also clear and penetrating. The back measures 35.3 cm.
Guarneri del Gesu worked in Cremona, and a copy of his work invites close comparison. So Benning tastefully antiqued the varnish to represent the Guarneri original. As a result, the 2017 Cannone violin by Eric Benning looks like an old instrument. It sounds like one as well.
For a player, the appeal was direct. This Eric Benning Cannone violin from 2017 offered a del Gesu voice in wood already close to a century old. It suited a soloist who needs to carry over an orchestra. It also rewarded a player who enjoys a famous model with a story behind it.
The Maker
Eric Benning started young. He began making violins at age 11 under the guidance of his violinmaking parents.
Later, he trained with his great-uncle, Carl F. Becker Jr., one of the most acclaimed American makers. That makes Benning a third-generation luthier.
Today he works as the house luthier at Benning Violins in Los Angeles. His copies of great Cremonese violins draw soloists, teachers and orchestral players alike. In 2017, Eric Benning made this Cannone violin as one of his boldest tributes.
Terms of Sale
This violin has sold, so it is no longer available for purchase. Benning Violins invites you to browse our current catalog of fine instruments. You can also contact us directly to ask about similar pieces.