Scan 174
Joseph Guarnerius, his work and his master [Andreas Gisalberti], 1906
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 106. See the scan on archive.org.
1under personal observation—and such an alteration in the material used is somewhat startling, as we are met with a dark outside material, which may be ebony, with the usual white centre; but the way in which it goes into each corner is just his own. We may safely presume, after examination in detail, that in constructing such a tenderly drawn pattern, an extra effort at artistic effect was made by the artist, possibly for some lady player who had asked Joseph to make a nice looking violin, and to endow it with the excellent tone which was very likely becoming well known and associated with his name.
3Concerning the modelling as compared with the 1714, there is very little change; in this respect, however, he has shown his resolve to have nothing more of Gisalberti's influence over his violins, and so far as my knowledge leads me to believe, it never appeared again in any important details. The rise from the purfling is very gradual, with little or no channelling to the apex of the curve or vaulting, which treatment causes an appearance of more breadth in the design.
5This is, further, more favourable to the lasting quality, although it may not have been much in contemplation by the designer, but looked upon from a purely artistic point. The term "lasting quality" will be understood to mean chiefly the retention of form under usage and liability to injury, and survival therefrom in the hands of competent repairers. That much attention was paid to this part of the subject from the youth upwards of the violin, will be perfectly clear to the student who will look upon the growth of style in construction during the first two centuries of its existence. It may almost in fact be viewed as a prolonged effort at combining beautiful form with as much durability or strength of constitution as was consistent with other requisite conditions.
7That these latter were fully taken into consideration by Joseph Guarnerius everything bearing upon the subject proves very distinctly, and that so far from being an eccentric artist with untrammelled tendencies, he was,
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