France School
Francois (I) Lupot
Orleans, Plombieres, 1725–1804
Francois (I) Lupot (1725-1804) was a significant French violin maker, son and pupil of Laurent Lupot. He worked in Lunéville before serving as violin maker to the Duke of Württemberg in Stuttgart from 1754 to 1768. He later established himself in Orleans around 1769, where he made various stringed instruments and bows, before moving to Paris in 1794. Known for his low-arched instruments with a broad pattern and dark varnish, his work was considered of great ability, though his fame was later eclipsed by his son Nicolas. A violin he made in 1772 is held in the Paris Conservatorium.
Auction price history
Highest auction price
13 results
| Type | Details | Auction house | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | Labelled Francisco Lupot fecit, in Orleano anno 1779 Lot 55 | Tarisio | March 2024 | £21,600est. £ 15,000-22,000 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Orléans, 1774 | — | December 2011 | £4,227 |
| Violin | 35.8 cm Orléans, 1775-1780 c. | — | June 2011 | £13,226 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Orléans, 1774 | — | June 2010 | £6,214 |
| Violin | 35.2 cm Orléans, 1775-1780 c. (restored soundpost break) | — | June 2008 | £8,820 |
| Cello | 72.8 cm Orleans, 1770 c. | — | April 2007 | £16,982 |
| Violin | Orleans, 1775-1780 c. | — | June 2005 | £6,330 |
| Violin | Orleans, 1775 c. | — | June 2005 | £7,245 |
| Violin | Orleans, 1787 | — | October 2004 | £5,726 |
| Violin | 1780 | — | June 1999 | £13,709 |
| Violin | 1780-99 | — | March 1992 | £2,970 |
| Violin | 1772 | — | July 1991 | £9,350 |
| Violin | 1771 | — | June 1985 | £5,969 |
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Maker Overview
Life
Francois (I) Lupot (1725-1804) was born in Plombières, Vosges, and died in Paris, France. He was the son and pupil of Laurent Lupot., he was active in Lunéville from approximately 1746 to 1754. Cecie Stainer notes his activity with his father in Lunéville from 1751 to 1756. He was appointed violin maker to the Duke of Württemberg in Stuttgart, where he worked from 1754 to 1768, though Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states he came to Stuttgart around 1758 and remained until about 1770. Cecie Stainer also confirms his residence and work in Stuttgart for ten years, from 1758 to 1768. He married in 1754 at the age of 18. From 1769, he established himself in Orleans, with an advertisement in the Orleans newspaper on May 19, 1769, announcing his establishment on rue Royale. Lütgendorff and Stainer mention his residence on rue St. Cathérine or rue Sainte-Catherine in Orleans. He moved to Paris in 1794 with his son Nicolas, where he remained until his death in 1804.
Characteristics
- Construction
- Instruments produced by Francois (I) Lupot featured a low arch and a large, broad pattern.
- Varnish
- The varnish was generally described as poor quality, dark brown, or ochre coloured.
- Branding
- His instruments were typically branded on the back button.
- Output
- He made pedal harps, luths, archi-luths, and bows "à la Coly" (or Lolli).
- Workmanship
- His work demonstrated great ability and was considered superior to that of Laurent and Jean Lupot, establishing him as one of the best French makers of his time. George Hart noted that his workmanship and style were similar to other makers of his period, such as Chappuy.
- Design
- He worked after the models of Stradivari. The scroll on his instruments was often described as rather rough.
- fran�ois lupot lutier
a luneville 1747Brumpton Import - Fran�ois Lupot, Luthier de
la coure de Wirtenbergt
� Stoutgard l�anno 1767Brumpton Import - Francisco Lupot fecit
in Orl�ans, anno 1775Brumpton Import - Francisco Lupot fecit
In Orleano, anno 1772Brumpton Import
Influence and legacy
- Mentorship: Francois (I) Lupot was the son and pupil of Laurent Lupot.
- Family: His two sons, Nicolas and François, both became makers.
- Misconceptions: While a legend suggested he was a pupil of Giuseppe Guarneri, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff explicitly refutes this, stating that Lupot was demonstrably never in Italy and only worked after Stradivari.
- Recognition: A splendid violin made by him in Orleans in 1772 is preserved in the Museum of the Paris Conservatorium (or Paris Conservatoire Collection).
- Documentation: A document signed by Jomelli, Director of Music to the Duke of Württemberg, attests to Francois (I) Lupot's satisfactory fulfillment of his duties for ten consecutive years until his departure on June 16, 1768.
- Historical Context: Although he was considered one of the better violin makers of his era, his fame was largely overshadowed by that of his renowned son, Nicolas Lupot.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
LUPOT, François (I) Born 1725 Plombières, Vosges, died 1804 Paris France. Son and pupil of Laurent Lupot, below. Active c.1746-1754 in Lunéville. Appointed violin maker to the Duke of Württemberg in Stuttgart 1754-1768. Established in Orleans from 1769. The Orleans newspaper of May 19 1769: ‘Master Francois Lupot, formerly luthier to his honour the Duke of Wurtemberg, presently established in Orleans on rue Royale, gives notice that he makes pedal harps, luths, archi-luths and bows a la Coly (sic – Lolli) finally joining his son Nicolas in Paris’. Low arched instruments with large broad pattern but rather poor dark brown or ochre coloured varnish. Generally branded on the back button. M
George Hart+
Son of Laurent. Born at Plombieres. In the year 1758 he removed to Stuttgard, and was appointed maker to the Duke of Wurtemberg. François removed with his son Nicolas to Orleans in 1770. He died in Paris in 1804. The workmanship and style is similar to that seen in the instruments of Chappuy and other makers of that period. Scroll rather rough, varnish dark brown, broad pattern.
Cecie Stainer+
Son of Laurent Lupot; b. 1736, Plombieres ; d. 1804, Paris. First worked with his father at Luneville (1751-56) was appointed Court maker by the Duke of Wurtemberg, and for ten years (1758-68) lived and worked at Stuttgart.
A document is still extant, signed by Jomelli, Director of Music to the Duke, attesting to François having satisfactorily fulfilled his duties for ten consecutive years up to the date at which he was leaving— June 16, 1768. He then moved to Orleans, rue Sainte-Catherine, probably to join his father ; but in 1794 went to Paris with his son Nicolas and remained there till his death.
His work shows great ability and is superior to that of Laurent and Jean Lupot ; he was certainly one of the best French makers of his time, and is said to have been a pupil of Giuseppe Guarneri. He made a number of instruments on rather a broad pattern, with dark-brown varnish of poor quality. In the Paris Conservatoire Collection is a splendid violin made at Orleans in 1772.
Labels: a curiously-spelt one, “François Lupot, luttier de la coure de Wirtenbergt a Stoutgard, 1765,”
and “Francisco Lupot fecit in Orleans, anno 177—.”
He married in 1754, at the age of 18, and his two sons, Nicolas and François, were both makers.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Sohn und Schüler von Laurent L. Er verheirathete sich schon im Alter
von 18 Jahren und kam um 1758 nach Stuttgart, wo er Lautenmacher des
Herzogs von Württemberg wurde und bis etwa 1770 blieb. Mit einem glänzenden
Zeugniss des württembergischen Hofcapellmeisters Jomelli versehen, kehrte
er nach Frankreich zurück und liess sich in Orleans als Geigenmacher nieder.
Er wohnte dort bis 1794 in der Rue St. Cathérine und folgte dann seinem Sohne
Nicolas nach Paris. Er war einer der besseren Geigenmacher seiner Zeit, dessen
Ruhm freilich sehr von seinem grossen Sohne Nicolas verdunkelt wurde. Auch
um sein Leben wurde ein Sagenkranz gewunden; man machte ihn zu einem
Schüler von Jos. Guarneri und dergl, obwohl er nachweislich nie in Italien war und nur nach Stradivari arbeitete. Eine schöne Violine von ihm aus dem Jahre 1772 besitzt das Museum des Pariser Conservatoriums.
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