THE PHILIPPE DENNERY COLLECTION

A scientist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and music lover, Philippe Dennery spent his life assembling objects chosen with rare discernment and sensitivity. At the heart of his collection, sold by Artcurial in June 2025, shone Ville Verte, a 1952 masterpiece by Zao Wou-Ki in emerald hues, whose abstract figures seemed to resonate with Alberto Giacometti’s Tête de femme, Osselet, and Étoile lamps.

A passionate amateur violinist, Philippe Dennery possessed one final treasure. After long playing on a violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, he had found, in the Guarneri del Gesù presented by Artcurial, the instrument of a lifetime.

A Violinist’s Dream

Fewer than 150 violins by Guarneri del Gesù are known today, each bearing a unique personality.

More than his contemporary Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù is celebrated for the expressive strength and dramatic intensity of his instruments. For nearly three centuries, the world’s greatest virtuosos — from Niccolò Paganini to Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, and Itzhak Perlman — have chosen them for their exceptional resonance and emotional depth. Admired both for their rarity and their radiant tone, these instruments embody the very essence of art and stand as enduring witnesses to the genius of Cremona and to the unrivalled Golden Age of violin making.

The “ex Dennery” stands out for its rich and complex tonal spectrum, capable of extraordinary projection without ever sacrificing subtlety. Its deep, resonant lower register blends with luminous, penetrating hights, offering the performer an almost limitless expressive range — from the most delicate intimacy to the grandeur of the concert hall.