Scan 77
Cremona: an account of the Italian violin-makers and their instruments, 1894
13 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 55. See the scan on archive.org.
1in Cremona, and was in artistic achievements but little inferior to it. The work of Francesco belongs to the school of Amati, without being absolute copies. The design of the outlines and archings is elegant, and the F holes come in from midway between those of Nicholas Amati and of Stradivarius. The scroll is gracefully carved, and harmonizes exactly with the body. The varnish is clear red, approaching golden, not to be surpassed, and is perhaps unequalled. The back is thickly, and the belly thinly, varnished. He made violins, violas, and violoncellos, the tone of which is extremely clear and intense.
3170. RUGGERI, Giacinto. Cremona, 1696. The few instruments of his which exist bear clearly the stamp of his father Francesco, in whose workshop he was undoubtedly trained.
5171. RUGGERI, Giovanni Baptista. 1666-1725. (m) A pupil of Nicolas Amati: he established himself first at Cremona and afterwards at Brescia. He varies materially from the model of Francesco, uses higher archings, and makes the F holes less elegant and the scroll one of two readings
6171. RUGGERI, Giovanni Baptista. 1666-1725. (m) one of two readings
7Io: Bapt. Rogerius Bon: Nicolai Amati Cremona alumnus Brixiae fecit Anno Domini 17— one of two readings
8A pupil of Nicolas Amati: he established himself first at Cremona and afterwards at Brescia. He varies materially from the model of Francesco, uses higher archings, and makes the F holes less elegant and the scroll one of two readings
10(l) Mr. G. I. Foster Cooke has a violoncello by this maker, Giacinto (the son of Francesco), whose instruments are somewhat rare. The back and sides are of pear-wood, the back being in one piece. The varnish is of a fine dark colour. The shape is of the bold broad type found in the instruments of the Rugieri family. The tone of the upper strings is sweet in quality, and that of the lower possesses great depth and richness. The ticket, as kindly furnished by the owner, is, "Giacinto filio di Francesco Ruggeri detto Il Per 1696." This violoncello was formerly the solo instrument of Mr. Hancock, the favourite pupil of Lindley.
12(m) There is some confusion here in order and in orthography. This master was a maker of Brescia, one of the Rogeri family and the father of Pietro Giacomo Rogeri, or Rogieri. The Brescian and Cremonese families are here not clearly distinguished; this, considering the many varieties of spelling, is not to be wondered at. De Piccolellis has done much to clear up the confusion. To this maker is due Signor Piatti's fine violoncello, which formerly belonged to the Duc de Litta, and once to Paganini.
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