Scan 32
Joseph Guarnerius, his work and his master [Andreas Gisalberti], 1906
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 14. See the scan on archive.org.
1There appears to have been much done in the way of taking the then newly made violins from Cremona, as the chief seat of the art, and selling them in foreign lands, where ready recipients were in waiting for them on account of their pleasing sounding qualities.
3Naturally enough, many fine instruments remained in Italy for various reasons, not excluding the requirements of the connoisseurs there; that fine tonal quality among the Italian violins was not invariably accompanied by the exquisite form and finish associated with the name of Amati of Cremona.
5Many exquisitely toned violins were left untouched by foreign buyers as unknown and appreciated solely among the musicians of the various localities or near where they were made. They were, many of them, if they escaped the interference of the label traders, to be brought upon the table a generation or two afterwards, when the delicacies of the Amati season were no longer to be had, and the connoisseur's appetite had to be appeased with different fare.
7It is therefore no matter for surprise that some masters have only been recognised outside their country long after they had died and were sometimes almost forgotten by their kith and kin in the art.
9To one of such our attention is now to be directed.
11Of the then, as now known, Amati school—that is chiefly according to tonal considerations—he was doubtless as well or better known to his brethren in the art of Cremona than many whose names have been quite familiar for generations to connoisseurs in the principal cities of Europe.
13Although known to but very few people at the present day, his works cannot be said to have been neglected; they have been in use and done good duty as unknown Italians or even occasionally under the title of "Prison Josephs," a convenient appellation when an old Italian violin of rugged outline and good tonal qualities and sufficient mystery in form and colour comes before the dealer.
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