Chamber bass

Basso da Camera [Chamber bass]; body outlined with dark painted line; new bridge; no spike or bow. Wooden case with two handles and lined in red velvet and with two recessed pockets. This basso di camera was bequeathed in 1846 to Prince Albert by Domenico Dragonetti, the greatest of all virtuosi of the double bass who had known both Haydn and Beethoven, and was famous throughout Europe. His will states that the bass was once owned by the celebrated English singer Bartleman. It is the instrument that Dragonetti played in the presence of Prince Albert when the Prince was a Director of the Concert of Ancient Music in 1845. It was subsequently put at the disposal of Queen Victoria’s Private Band. Previously attributed to the luthier Andrea Guarneri, due to a spurious label inside the instrument.