Provenance: The violin has directly descended for three generations through the family of Jean Etienne Drouet, who died in 1990 at the age of 58. A much-respected musician, Drouet studied in Paris where he won the coveted Premier prix de Conservatoire de Paris. For many years, he held the position of solo violinist with the Orchestre du Capitole in Toulouse, and was a Professor of Music in that city's Conservatoire. Shortly after Drouet's death, the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich gave a recital in Toulouse, and performed a Bach Sarabande which he dedicated to the memory of his friend and colleague.