Scan 210
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737), 1909
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 186. See the scan on archive.org.
1great Italian violin-makers. From time to time generous patrons caused the old traditions to be revived, and we thus catch glimpses of the true recipe for Cremona varnish still now and then in use; but as years rolled on these instances became rarer and rarer. They occurred at Milan until about 1760. We meet the true recipe again, and for the last time, at Turin, used occasionally by J. B. Guadagnini, no doubt under the auspices of Count Cozio, up till 1780-84; but by the end of the century it had died out of use and remembrance. If we of modern times really wish to regain the knowledge possessed on this subject by the old makers, we must begin by retracing our steps. Leaving behind us this very commercial age, we must seek to work under conditions more resembling those of the period when the grand old masters of violin-making flourished. Success will only come to those who, mindful of the old traditions, unhesitatingly return to them. The popular idea that somebody will some fine day shout "Eureka," and forthwith quickly produce instruments which, in point of varnish, will equal those of Stradivari, is in the nature of a dream. The materials he used exist now, as in his day; but it will prove one problem to make the varnish, and quite another to utilise it with the perfect success of Stradivari.
3We may here, before concluding our remarks on this subject, appropriately add a few words as to the influence of varnish. We think it is not either sufficiently known or recognised that in a great measure Stradivari instruments owe to it their distinguished quality of tone; in reality the future of any perfectly constructed instrument is determined by the coat it is clothed in. Fine varnish will not compensate for bad material or faulty construction; but that it makes or mars the perfectly formed instrument is, in our opinion, beyond dispute. It should be remembered
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