Scan 173
Joseph Guarnerius, his work and his master [Andreas Gisalberti], 1906
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 105. See the scan on archive.org.
1We may, therefore, take it as settled conclusively that the wood, with the "cloud," "shade," or stain—whichever may be thought the best description—was selected by Joseph Guarnerius with no other purpose in view than that of securing the speciality of tone which he thought better than any other for certain purposes, and which pleased the particular class of patrons by whom he had been favoured with commissions.
3The lesser of the two violins illustrated (See Plates XIII., XIV., and XV.), of the period between 1714 and 1717—is interesting in several respects, that of evenness of thread in the pine in particular having the appearance of a selected portion of a table or plank of large size.
5We have here another of those sudden changes in the treatment of some of the matters of detail, and with which Joseph's name is in the minds of many principally associated.
7The difference between this type and the one of 1714, although so striking at first sight, is really not so great when carefully considered. If we could suppose the 1714 pattern to be placed in the hands of one of the old Cremonese liutaros, whose absorbing ideas of beauty in form were inseparably connected with extreme delicacy of treatment, this pattern is just what we might expect as a result of his interpretation or effort to idealize.
9The proportions as a whole are retained almost in a strict sense, the corners are lengthened to a slight degree, while the curves are drawn with much more steadiness; an increase being thus gained in delicacy of appearance generally.
11The size of the violin being less than the other (1714, full size), we naturally expect to find a narrower border combined with thinner corners. We are not disappointed, as we find these latter drawn out with much care and tenderness.
13As to the purfling, there is a change which can only be described as remarkable, no hint has been thrown out before—we can only speak of those that have come
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