Much of Boccherini's chamber music follows models established by Joseph Haydn; however, he is often credited with improving Haydn's model of the string quartet by bringing the cello to prominence, whereas Haydn had frequently relegated it to an accompaniment role. Rather, some sources for Boccherini's style are in the works of a famous Italian cellist, Giovanni Battista Cirri, who was born before Boccherini and before Haydn, and in the Spanish popular music. This particular set of quartets was written in 1780, and published originally marked as Op. 33 by Artaria, and later by Pleyel as part of Op. 39.
