Geneva School
Alfred Vidoudez
Geneva, 1879–1943
Alfred Vidoudez (1879-1943) was a Swiss luthier born and active in Geneva, where he established his independent workshop in 1904. He trained with notable figures of the French School, including Justin Bazin, Mougenot, and Léon Bernardel. Vidoudez was known for his accurate and clean workmanship, producing instruments based on Stradivari and Guarneri models while imbuing them with his personal style. He served as luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire, received medals at Berne and Lyons, and published a book on his profession.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Alfred Vidoudez Luthier du Conservatoire à Genève l'an 1924 156, branded A. Vidoudez Geneve | May 2024 | £5,183 |
| Violin | October 2011 | £5,750 | |
| Violin | 35.9 cm Geneva, 1924 | October 2011 | £5,750 |
| Viola Bow | S/I 66.5 g. | April 2011 | £2,250 |
| Violin | 35.7 cm Genève, 1912 | December 2010 | £3,935 |
| Viola Bow | G/T 71.5 g. 1940 c. | October 2010 | £3,250 |
| Viola | 42.6 cm Geneva, 1930 c. | December 2008 | £1,680 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 63.5 g. | February 2007 | £939 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79 g. Geneva | May 2006 | £638 |
| Violin | Geneva, 1927 | November 2005 | £4,560 |
| Violin Bow | S/E 60.5 g. [made for] | October 2005 | £983 |
| Violin Bow | S/E | February 2005 | £1,050 |
| Violin | Geneva, 1904 [Attributed to] | July 2004 | £3,107 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 80 g. | June 1992 | £1,430 |
| Cello Bow | G/I 87 g. | March 1986 | £1,138 |
| Viola Bow | S/T 69 g. | July 1985 | £756 |
| Cello Bow | S/E 79 g. | February 1985 | £858 |
Maker Overview
Life
Alfred Vidoudez (1879-1943) was born in Geneva in 1879 and died in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1943. He established himself independently in Geneva from 1904. Vidoudez was appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire. He authored a small book titled Quelques considerations sur mon metier ('A few remarks upon my profession'), which was presented as a lecture to the Industrial and Commercial Class of the Society of Arts at Geneva.
Characteristics
- Models
- Alfred Vidoudez's violins were based on the patterns of Stradivarius or Guarnerius, but he was not a servile copyist, incorporating his own personality into the general outline, sound holes, and scroll.
- Workmanship
- His work is characterized by accurate and clean workmanship in the French style.
- Varnish
- At the beginning of his career, he used a thick brown-red oil varnish, which he later replaced with a lighter and more supple coating of gold-yellow or orange-red shade.
- Alfred Vidouez, Luthier du Conservatoire
à Genève l’an 1916John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Training: Alfred Vidoudez was a disciple of the French School. He studied first at Mirecourt with Justin Bazin, then worked with Mougenot in Brussels, and finally studied in Paris under the guidance of Léon Bernardel after his military service.
- Appointments: Alfred Vidoudez was appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire.
- Awards: He was awarded medals at Berne and Lyons.
- Publications: He authored a book titled Quelques considerations sur mon metier ('A few remarks upon my profession').
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
VIDOUDEZ, Alfred Born 1879, Worked Brussels Belgium, died 1943 Geneva Switzerland. Pupil of G. Bazin in Mirecourt. Subsequently worked for Mougenot in Brussels. After military service went to Léon Bernardel in Paris. Established independently in Geneva from 1904. Appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire. Medals awarded at Berne and Lyons. Stradivari and Guarneri models. Accurate and clean workmanship in French style. Earlier work with substantial red-brown oil varnish. Later used a thinner paler golden-yellow or orange. Alfred Vidouez, Luthier du Conservatoire / à Genève l’an 1916 [Boltshauser]
Henri Poidras+
Geneva. Born in this town in 1879. Disciple of the French School through the thorough studies he made, first at Mirecourt with Justin Bazin, afterwards with Mougenot at Brussels and lastly in Paris under the guidance of Leon Bernardel. The model of his violins does not considerably differ from the pattern of Stradivarius or Guarnerius, but he is not a servile copyist and his own personality may be traced in the general outline, the sound holes and the scroll. The thick brown- red oil varnish he used at the beginning of his career is now replaced by a lighter and more supple coating of gold-yellow or orange-red shade. He is the author of a small book entitled : « Quelques considerations sur mon metier » (« A few remarks upon my profession ») which was the subject of a lecture to the Industrial and Commercial Class of the Society of Arts at Geneva.
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Family
Pierre Vidoudez Son
Working in Geneva at the same time
Aime Kling 1874–1955
Emile Bertherat 1881–1951
Leon Fischesser 1861–1937
M. Engel worked 1926
Pierre Vidoudez 1907–1994