Scan 301
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737), 1909
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 273. See the scan on archive.org.
1an interesting item of news bearing on this subject. Paolo Stradivari, writing under date June, 1775, to the Count's agent, concludes his letter as follows: "An English gentleman, a person of rank, passed through Cremona, and wanted to buy two violins by Stradivari. I had not the courage to ask him his name, but I told him about you, and that you collect instruments by all the best and most renowned makers. I gave him your name and address, and he then wished to know if you had any instruments made by Stradivari, and I informed him that you had many, as I had sold you some a short time ago."
3It is impossible to say whether we or our French neighbours were the first to recognise the superiority of Stradivari's instruments. We were certainly not behind them, and it is probable that conviction was brought home to both nations at about the same time, and that both were primarily indebted to Italian players for the impulse. In "Les Luthiers Italiens" * Gallay states that the arrival of Viotti in the French capital in 1782 (not in 1796 as given), his admirable playing, and the fine tone he produced from his Stradivari instrument caused quite a sensation, and from that moment a keen interest in the hitherto but little known master was evinced. Viotti's visit to England a few years later, and his subsequent prolonged residence among us, must have equally influenced the opinions of our musicians and amateurs. We obtain a very instructive insight into this change of opinion through the very able comparison between Stainer and Stradivari found in a letter addressed by the Rev. Thomas Twining, M.A., to Dr. Burney, dated May 4th, 1791.† He says: "I have
5* "Les Luthiers Italiens aux XVIIième et XVIIIième Siècles," Paris, 1869. one of two readings
6* "Les Luthiers Italiens aux XVIIème et XVIIIème Siècles," Paris, 1869. one of two readings
7† "A Country Clergyman of the Eighteenth Century," p. 149. John Murray, 1882.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.