Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

Books › Notice of Anthony Stradivari, the celebrated violin-maker, known by the name of Stradivarius:, 1864 › scan 89

Scan 89

Notice of Anthony Stradivari, the celebrated violin-maker, known by the name of Stradivarius:, 1864

6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 67. See the scan on archive.org.

1to silvery mellowness. The violoncello of the admirable artist M. Franchomme is of the other pattern; it formerly belonged to Duport, and is an instrument of very great value. At the present day this pattern is preferred, the dimensions of which are convenient for the performance of difficulties. The hand of a Servais is required for a bass so large as his.
3The violoncellos of Stradivarius are immeasurably superior to all other instruments of this kind: their powerful tone possesses a fulness, a distinctive character and a brilliance which cannot be equalled. These admirable qualities result, on the one hand, from the choice of the wood, on the other, from the degrees of thickness; and, in short, from the exact relations of all parts of the instrument, which are set in equilibrium in order that the vibrations may be free, energetic, and prolonged. The superiority of these instruments is ensured, as in the case of the violins, by the constant application of the laws of acoustics.
5At the period when Stradivarius worked, viols of all species were still used in the orchestras; he himself made many of them, of different forms and dimensions, with six and seven strings, as well as quintons with flat backs, raised sides, and arched bellies; also some guitars, lutes, and mandoras. One of the latter instruments, constructed by this great artist, exists at Paris, at the present time: the delicacy of the workmanship and the beauty of the varnish are very remarkable; the carving of the head is of exquisite finish, so that, both as a whole, as well as in its details, this pretty instrument combines all kinds of perfection.

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