Scan 79
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737), 1909
2 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1been continually transformed by different treatment of the curves and corners of the outline, model, etc. As regards dimensions, Stradivari kept to the 14-inch instrument; at least, he did not exceed that length except in such cases as that of the "Hellier" violin, dated 1679, and several examples of the years 1684, 1690, 1692; and never, as far as we know, did he exceed 14 1/6 inches in length, while retaining full proportions otherwise. These earlier tentative efforts were now to bear fruit, for about 1708-9 Stradivari struck out a new form, of the length of 14 1/8 inches, accompanied by the fullest widths. That he was in a very experimental frame of mind may be seen on referring to the Appendix, as during the years 1709-12 he varied and altered his proportions more than at any subsequent or previous time. We entirely fail to perceive any fixed idea or principle guiding Stradivari in determining the relative height of the sides in keeping with these changes of dimensions. He continually fluctuated: here 1 3/6 inch at the bottom and 1 1/8 at the top; there 1 1/4 at the bottom and 1 3/6 at the top, the usual proportion; in one case we have the extreme heights of 1 3/8 and 1 1/4; but any consistent plan, such as lowering or raising them in accordance with the model, or with either increased or diminished length and width, is in most cases absent. The consequence is that we meet with violins having sides of 1 3/6 to 1 1/8 inch, where, to judge by the general proportions, a still better tone-result would have been obtained had they been left at 1 1/4 to 1 3/6. The actual curves of the 14 1/8-inch outline, with the exception of a broader sweep at the top and bottom where the extra length is divided, differ but little from those of the 1706-9 instruments: the bouts remain of the same proportion. The edge, purfling, corners, model, and general character are also similarly neat. Stradivari does not seem to have made this type of violin a special feature
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.