Scan 85
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737), 1909
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1that owned by M. Soil, dated 1714; the "Blunt," dated 1721; and the "Sarasate," dated 1724. On the other hand, we would point out that the "Messie" violin, which was sold by Paolo Stradivari to Count Cozio, also has the original neck, but does not appear to have been so marked.
3The year 1716 furnishes three remarkable violins: the one formerly owned by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, now at the Musical Institute of Florence; the "Cessol," formerly in possession of the late Mr. Croall; and lastly, that unique example, the "Messie," of which we shall speak more fully.
5The year 1717 claims that fine example known as the "Sasserno," owned by Mr. Phipps; that in possession of Mr. R. L. Harrison, and an admirable specimen left by the late Mr. Orchar, of Broughty Ferry, to a local museum. This year also gives us the violoncello in the possession of Mr. Holden.
7The year 1718 also gives us two violins of high order: the "Maurin," formerly owned by the late Mr. John Rutson, and the fine example known as the "San Lorenzo," the property of Mr. G. Talbot.
9The year 1719 gives us the "Lauterbach" violin and the "Becker" violoncello.
11The fine violin of Mr. Kruse, and the famed violoncello of the late Signor Piatti, belong to 1720.
13Let us pause here and try to sum up the characteristics of these fine specimens of Stradivari's fully-matured genius. Place side by side the "Boissier" and the "Dolphin" violins, of the years 1713 and 1714 respectively. Both show continuity of ideas, combined with individual freedom of treatment. We see a close similarity of form, model, sound-holes, and work in general,—the heads are twin brothers. True, the latter instrument is of 14-inch, the former of 14 1/8-inch form, which, added to a slightly decreased curve of the bouts, gives an increased sweep to top and bottom. Again, the model of the belly is a little
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