Books › Chats on violins, 1905 › scan 89
Scan 89
Chats on violins, 1905
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 69. See the scan on archive.org.
1which has often caused me to ruminate as to whether Stradivarius would have been quite so industrious, minus the two Signora Stradivaris and the eleven olive branches. After consideration I have come to the conclusion that, in all probability, he might have remained a second-rate fiddle-maker all his life, but for that family which simply had to be supported. Truly, the fiddle-making world owes a deep debt of gratitude à ces dames and the eleven children!
3Strad's primary work commenced when about fourteen, in Nicolo Amati's shop. Here, side by side, with the more sober Andrea Guarnerius, he was initiated in all the exquisite artifices of the violin craft. Here, under his master's scrutiny, he daily scraped and carved his way to greater perfection. Here, reposing from his labours, he laughed with the gay little rogue, Joseph Guarnerius (son of Andrea), or chatted with Grancino and Ruggieri. Here his dexterous hands are said to have made many a violin which was labelled Nicolas Amati, and here he dreamed love dreams of Francesca Ferabosca, a widow ten years his senior, whom he eventually married when he was but eighteen years old.
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