Back in the 70s, amongst my wares over at Bermondsey Antique Market in London a gentleman picked up a violin and an oil painting depicting a country scene with a hay wagon in the foreground. He asked me for any provenance or information on both articles.
I promptly replied that the violin was by John Constable and the painting was by Stradivarius. He looked puzzled and replied: “Have you not got this information the wrong way round?”
” Certainly Not Sir” I replied.
” How Come? ” He asked.
I said: “It’s simple. Stradivarius was a lousy painter and John Constable was useless at making violins”
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