Statue Francesco Xaverio Geminiani - Lucca

This statue is located in the Arena di Piazza Guidiccione in Lucca.

Francesco (Saverio) Geminiani (5 December 1687 – 17 September 1762) was an Italian violin virtuoso, music teacher and composer. He studied violin, first with Carlo Ambrogio Lonati in Milan, and then with Arcangelo Corelli. He studied composition with Alessandro Scarlatti. Geminiani's music is freer and more emotional than that of his illustrious predecessor and teacher Corelli.

Geminiani is seen as an important violin virtuoso. He had a habit of improvising during a performance, which often caused the orchestra to miss the connection. In 1714 he left for England, where he was valued by the English court and aristocracy as a violinist, orchestra leader and music teacher. In 1733 he moved to Dublin. Because of his faith, he could not accept an appointment as conductor. Instead, he gave a series of concerts that earned him the reputation of being the greatest musician of his time. He also opened a concert room in Dublin.

With the exception of two periods in Dublin and one period in Paris, he remained in England for the rest of his life. In his teaching, he first introduced modern violin technique to England. His Art of Playing on the Violin (1731) is one of the earliest textbooks on violin playing. He also wrote several other theoretical texts.

His oeuvre includes concerti grossi, violin sonatas, cello sonatas and keyboard pieces.

Willem Vandenameele