Scan 66
Cremona: an account of the Italian violin-makers and their instruments, 1894
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 44. See the scan on archive.org.
1If the strength of the bellies is carefully tested, much irregularity is found; they are for the most part thick in the breast, but there are violins in which the belly is of the same thickness throughout, and some also (for instance, Dr. Weber's, in Berlin) in which the belly is thick at the edges and thinner at the breast. In spite of this, all have fine tone, so it is to be assumed that this master possessed a peculiar knowledge of the tone-giving qualities of wood, and that he understood how to work in his own peculiar fashion with extraordinary dexterity.
3Guarnerius did not in his life-time gain that fame which was his due. His great artistic power first attained its present high place of honour long after his death, and then principally through the violin used by Paganini. (h)
5(h) This violin is the instrument, so frequently described, which reposes in the Museum at Genoa. It is of the year 1743. The magnificent violin of 1742, formerly belonging to J. B. Vuillaume, and then to the late M. Delphin Alard, was presented by Madame Alard to the Paris Conservatoire in 1890. Other celebrated violins are: (1), Mr. R. D. Hawley's, sometimes called the King Joseph, and considered the finest specimen in existence of this maker; (2) the second so-called King Joseph, which is, or was recently, in the possession of Mr. Laurie, of Glasgow; (3) the Wieniawski Joseph, of 1734, in the possession of Mr. Wm. Croall; (4) the "Dolphin" Joseph; (5) the violin of 1735, belonging to Edouard Remenyi. Other fine violins might be mentioned, one of the late M. Prosper Sainton, which was recently, or is now, in the hands of Messrs. W. E. Hill and Sons; while another belongs to Mr. Haddock, of Leeds, and M. Adolphe Pollitzer plays upon a fine Guarnieri violin. A splendid instrument of 1742 is in the possession of Signor Bazzini; and another fine specimen, well known in musical history, is the "Violon du Diable" of 1734, so called from having been played by M. Saint Léon in an opera of that name in Paris. The latter violin was exhibited at South Kensington in 1872 by its owner, Madame Fleury. The Plowden violin subsequently belonged to Mr. d'Egville (London), and that of Mori to Mr. Viotti Collins. Mr. J. T. Carrodus possesses two excellent specimens—one, that called the Canon Joseph, and another of 1741, which formerly belonged to S. A. Forster, then to F. Cramer, and subsequently to a member of Dr. Mackenzie's family.
7One of the finest Guarnieri violas known was formerly the property of Signor Dragonetti; it afterwards passed into the hands of H.R.H. Prince Albert.
9His violoncellos are not frequently found: it may be noticed that a fine specimen of 1730, formerly the property of the late Jules de Swert, has recently been in the market in London. The Woolhouse violin, of 1742, was sold, it is believed, at the recent sale for £270.
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