Books › Antonio Stradivari, 1900 › scan 37
Scan 37
Antonio Stradivari, 1900
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1appreciation of the additional ornamentation. The violin pure and simple, with its single line of purfling only as it left the hands of the first master of the art of Brescia, is the one which has found the most lasting favour with connoisseurs and the public generally. Decorative additions, in various and more or less eccentric or extravagant styles, have been introduced from time to time by enterprising liutaros of different countries, but the discerning portion of the public will have none, and thereby pronounce the violin to be an unfit subject for extra clothing; beauty unadorned, adorned is most, is a figure of speech quite applicable to the simplicity of the violin as a work of art.
3Stradivari, who had now acquired—at the period 1680-90—a standing as an acknowledged master of his craft, showed in his handiwork a decided leaning in consonance with this, as—excepting these "inlaid Strads"—he carefully refrained from introducing any of the little tricks, or fanciful alteration of details, that so many, even of his own countrymen, seem to have been led to affix to their productions. After all, the "inlaid Strads" were probably so made, not at their maker's suggestion, but by desire of the patrons holding a high social position. Double purfled violins seem never to have left his hands, as none appear to be extant and no mention is made of any.
5There is one particular part of the finishing of the violin which calls for remark, and in the absence of evidence to the contrary must be put to the responsibility of Stradivari. This is known as the "black edging." It cannot come properly under the term decoration, as it has no variety in its management and consists only of the blackening of the squaring off of the junction of the ribs; likewise at the edges of the turns of the scroll and continued down the front and back of the peg-box to the shell. Its first appearance is not possible to determine and will probably remain unknown. Nicolas Amati did not introduce it, his work being of the kind that had no accommodation, or sufficient surface for it.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.