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Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737) -

Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps, Antonio Stradivari is synonymous with some of the rarest and most expensive violins in the world.

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Yehudi Menuhin (1916–1999) -

Yehudi Menuhin is widely considered one of the great violinists of the 20th century. He played the Soil Stradivarius, considered one of the finest violins made by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari. He's seen here in concert with Indian musician Ravi Shankar (1920-2012) in 1965.

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Stéphane Grappelli (1908–1997) -

Affectionately known as "the grandfather of jazz violinists," Stéphane Grappelli, seen here with Sacha Distel on the guitar, founded Quintette du Hot Club de France, one of the first all-string jazz bands.

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Henri Rousseau (1844-1910) -

The great French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau, pictured here in 1902, was an accomplished violinist.

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Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

Hollywood legend Marlene Dietrich studied the violin as a teenager, and was once the violinist for a pit orchestra in a silent film theater. She's seen here serenading French actor Jean Gabin in the early 1940s.

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Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977) -

Charlie Chaplin taught himself to play a number of musical instruments, including the violin. He used the violin in several of his films in an attempt to woo the fairer sex. Here he is playing a solo in 'The Vagabond' (1916).

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Albert Einstein (1879–1955) -

When not developing his theory of relativity, theoretical physicist Albert Einstein would pick up the violin, on which he was highly proficient.

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Jack Benny (1894–1974) -

American comic actor Jack Benny transitioned from modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to a highly popular comedic career in radio, television, and film.

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The Corrs -

Sharon Corr (violin), Andrea Corr, Caroline Corr, and Jim Corr of the Irish band The Corrs perform live during a concert in Berlin in 2016. The band combine pop rock with traditional Irish themes within their music.

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'Bound for Glory' (1976) -

David Carradine portrays Woody Guthrie in 'Bound for Glory,' a biographical film about one of the most significant figures in American western folk music. A noted guitarist, Guthrie also played fiddle and mandolin.

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The Incredible String Band -

British psychedelic folk group The Incredible String Band at Lincoln Folk Music Festival, England, in July 1971. The band became pioneers in psychedelic folk and, through integrating a wide variety of traditional music forms and instruments, in the development of world music.

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Electric Light Orchestra -

The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) was founded by Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood in England in 1970. ELO is noted for creating modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones, and has its own string section.

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Slade -

English glam rock band Slade performing on the BBC TV music program 'Top of the Pops' in 1971. Left to right: Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Dave Hill, and Don Powell. Bassist Lea is a classically trained musician, influenced by French jazz-violinist Stéphane Grappelli, and often played violin on stage.

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Nigel Kennedy -

English violinist Nigel Kennedy was a child prodigy; at the age of seven he became a pupil at the Yehudi Menuhin School of Music. His early career was primarily spent performing classical music, and he has since expanded into jazz, klezmer, and other music genres.

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Vanessa-Mae -

At the age of 13, Singapore-born Vanessa-Mae became the youngest soloist to record both the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos, according to Guinness World Records. She's seen here on stage playing an electric violin.

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Lindsey Stirling -

American violinist, songwriter, and dancer Lindsey Stirling on stage during her 2016 Brave Enough Tour at The Fox Theater in Detroit. She performs a variety of music styles, from classical to pop and rock to electronic dance music.

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Romantic dinner -

How's this for a romantic dinner? Restaurants often employ a violinist to create an intimate atmosphere. But six? One for each course of a tasting menu, perhaps?

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Making music -

This is Didier Maketa, a violin maker and member of the Kimbanguiste Symphonic Orchestra, posing at his workshop in Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Spiritual sound -

A monk practices violin in the grounds of Tiantai Temple in Hongan, Hubei province, China. Monks of the temple are proficient not only in Buddha Dharma but also in orchestral instruments.

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Street music -

A street musician serenades a rather disinterested passing shopper on Church Street, Kensington, in early 1950's London.

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Soothing strings -

Chilean nurse Damaris Silva plays the violin for patients infected with COVID-19 at the Intensive Care Unit of the El Pino hospital, in Santiago, Chile, in July 2020.

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Shirt music -

A violinist peers at the sheet music on the back of the Waltz blouse, created by Viennese fashion house Neumann in 1952. The cotton blouse is printed with some of the most famous Viennese waltzes.

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Music therapy -

A young girl plays the violin for an interested donkey.

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Voices and violin -

Metropolitan Opera stars Lucrezia Bori and Giovanni Martinelli make a recording in 1954 with the same acoustic equipment used at Enrico Caruso's first recording session in 1904. Accompanying the singers is veteran violinist Gabriel Peyre. Observing is George R. Marek, of RCA Victor records.

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In protest -

Members of the National Orchestra System raise their violins during a demonstration in rejection of the deaths of young people by security forces within opposition protests in Caracas, Venezuela, in May 2017.

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Robotic music -

Toyota's violin-playing robot plays at Universal Design Showcase in Tokyo. The robot, which has 17 joints in both arms, uses precise control to play the violin.

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Music to their ears -

Pictured in 1945 on the platform of Passau railway station in Germany, prior to leaving for home, this group of GIs relax to guitar, violin, and accordion music.

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Kaleidoscope view -

In this movie still from the 1933 Busby Berkeley musical 'Gold Diggers of 1933,' dancers with violins are seen from overhead in impressive kaleidoscopic formation.

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Jimmy Page -

Okay, so he's not a violinist. But Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, seen here playing a Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar with a violin bow during a 1972 concert, sure knows how to add a string to his bow. 

Sources: (Philharmonia) (National Geographic)

See also: Sax appeal: the musical and cultural impact of the saxophone.

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