Guarneri del Gesu

　

 This violin bears the name "Ysaye" from the Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931), who inspired Queen Elisabeth of Belgium to establish The Queen Elisabeth Competition (originally called Eugene Ysaye International Competition) in 1937. Inside the violin is an inscription written in French with red ink, "This Del Gesu was the faithful companion of my career. Ysaye 1928". The violin took part in the procession of Ysaye's State funeral being carried on a pillow in front of the virtuoso's coffin. From 1965, the violin was owned by the world virtuoso violinist Isaac Stern (1920-2001), from whom the Foundation acquired in 1998. At present, this violin is on loan to Pinchas Zukerman (1948- ), one of the foremost violinist of the 20th-21th century.