--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I inherited a painting and a violin which…" description: "\"I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins and Stradivarius..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg" --- # I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be… ![“I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins and Stradivarius was a terrible painter.” quote by Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg) > “I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins and Stradivarius was a terrible painter.” [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous anecdote about inheriting valuable art and instruments that turned out to be mismatched in quality, highlighting irony. **In simple terms:** Inherited valuable items turned out flawed. Key Takeaway Check authenticity before assuming value. Themes irony inheritance art music humor Mood lighthearted ironic Type cultural educational When to use this quote - auction houses - family heirlooms - museum acquisitions - personal collections Key Concepts value assessment expectation vs reality collectibles Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify an heirloom’s worth? - What lessons does this teach about assumptions? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complexities of art valuation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [Antonio Stradivari of Cremona, Italy, made about 1,200 violins, half of which still survive. After his death in 1737, factories churned out hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pearl/antonio-stradivari-of-cremona-italy-made-about-1-200-violins-half-of/) Daniel Pearl > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) Nina Schuyler > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I think I'm a guy who can get into the paint, make plays and obviously distribute and make plays for other guys, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-think-i-m-a-guy-who-can-get-into-the-paint-make-plays-and-obviously/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) ## More by Tommy Cooper > [It doesn't matter how many times the audience has heard it before. If it's funny, it's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-times-the-audience-has-heard-it-before-if/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [“Two blondes walk into a building. You'd think at least one of them would have seen it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/two-blondes-walk-into-a-building-you-d-think-at-least-one-of-them/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Last night I slept like a log. I woke up in the fire place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/last-night-i-slept-like-a-log-i-woke-up-in-the-fire-place/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [A blind bloke walks into a shop with a guide dog. He picks the Dog up and starts swinging it around his head. Alarmed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/a-blind-bloke-walks-into-a-shop-with-a-guide-dog-he-picks-the-dog-up/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Last night I dreamed I ate a ten-pound marshmallow, and when I woke up the pillow was gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/last-night-i-dreamed-i-ate-a-ten-pound-marshmallow-and-when-i-woke-up/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [I bought some HP sauce the other day. It's costing me 6p a month for the next 2 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-bought-some-hp-sauce-the-other-day-it-s-costing-me-6p-a-month-for/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van covered with hundreds and thousands. Police say that he topped himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/our-ice-cream-man-was-found-lying-on-the-floor-of-his-van-covered/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/gambling-has-brought-our-family-together-we-had-to-move-to-a-smaller/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [And an airplane of spittle dived into the sea, there were no salivas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/and-an-airplane-of-spittle-dived-into-the-sea-there-were-no-salivas/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [He said 'I'm going to chop off the bottom of one of your trouser legs and put it in a library. I thought, "That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/he-said-i-m-going-to-chop-off-the-bottom-of-one-of-your-trouser-legs/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [My wife said, 'Take me in your arms and whisper something soft and sweet.' I said, 'chocolate fudge.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/my-wife-said-take-me-in-your-arms-and-whisper-something-soft-and/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Electricity is a wonderful thing. Do you realise that if we didn't have electricity, we'd be watching television by candle light?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/electricity-is-a-wonderful-thing-do-you-realise-that-if-we-didn-t/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [And the back of his anorak was leaping up and down, and people were chucking money to him. I said 'Do you earn a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/and-the-back-of-his-anorak-was-leaping-up-and-down-and-people-were/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [Went to the corner shop - bought 4 corners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/went-to-the-corner-shop-bought-4-corners/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) > [I'm on a whisky diet... last week, I lost three days!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-m-on-a-whisky-diet-last-week-i-lost-three-days/) [Tommy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) [Explore all 78 Tommy Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/) ## More Painting quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I had an idea for a technologically advanced luxury watch. I got involved in digital art and neon painting and put on shows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-had-an-idea-for-a-technologically-advanced-luxury-watch-i-got/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [I think I'm a guy who can get into the paint, make plays and obviously distribute and make plays for other guys, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-think-i-m-a-guy-who-can-get-into-the-paint-make-plays-and-obviously/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) Nina Schuyler > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 8,069 Painting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins and Stradivarius was a terrible painter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tommy Cooper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-which-turned-out-to-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Painting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-which-turned-out-to-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/062/tommy-cooper-8755_painting_i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-whic_327321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately…” — Tommy Cooper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tommy Cooper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-cooper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I inherited a painting and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-which-turned-out-to-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-cooper/i-inherited-a-painting-and-a-violin-which-turned-out-to-be-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```