Guitar

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of masterful Spanish lutherie with this stunning 1912 guitar, by the renowned Madrid makers Manuel Ramírez and Santos Hernández. Fashioned from premium tonewoods—spruce for the resonant top, rosewood and for the back and sides, ebony for the fingerboard, and ivory or for inlays—this chordophone exemplifies the pinnacle of early 20th-century guitar construction. Measuring 38 inches in total height and 14½ inches across the lower bouts, its elegant proportions and fretted lute design were optimized for the classical repertoire emerging in Spain's vibrant musical scene. Ramírez, a pioneer of the modern classical guitar, and his skilled apprentice Hernández elevated the instrument from folk staple to concert virtuoso's tool. Their workshop in Madrid produced guitars prized for superior projection, sustain, and warmth, influencing generations of players. This piece hails from a golden era when Spanish craftsmanship blended tradition with innovation, just as guitarists like Andrés Segovia were redefining the instrument on global stages. Generously gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1986 by Emilita Segovia, Marquessa of Salobreña—likely connected to the legendary guitarist—this guitar now resides in the museum's Musical Instruments department. It invites visitors to appreciate not just its beauty, but the cultural symphony of wood, skill, and sound that shaped modern music.

About the Artist

Manuel Ramírez|Santos Hernández (Spanish|Spanish) · 1864 |1874 –1916 |1943

Spanish, Alhama de Aragon, 1864–1916|Spanish, 1874–1943