Viotti and the Chinnerys: a relationship charted through letters

The Italian violinist and composer Giovanni Battista Viotti (1755-1824) is considered today to have been one of the most significant forces in the history of violin playing.

In 1792 he met Margaret and William Chinnery, a wealthy English couple with strong connections in the world of arts and letters.

From that point onwards Viotti's life became inextricably bound up with theirs; he moved into their home and became a second father to their children, forming a remarkably successful m?nage ? trois. Henceforth, all Viotti's career decisions were taken with this family's welfare in mind.