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Scan 175
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 30 September 2026. Printed page 161. See the scan on archive.org.
1once performed by a celebrated artist. The instrument appears to have passed through the ordeal without suffering injury, but the effect upon the audience and upon the artist is not stated.
3I suppose there are few violin fanciers in the world to whom the name of Vuillaume is unknown. The most celebrated of that name did so much, and helped others to do so much, towards plucking the heart out of the Cremonese mystery, if such a feat may be said to have been yet accomplished, that it would be strange indeed if he were not widely known and esteemed in such circles in all countries. His long career was one of almost continual personal progress in his own art; and during its course he not only sacrificed time and money to the general advancement of this industry, but it may also, I think, be said that the first book which threw any clear light on the history of the great Italian makers and their works was compiled from information carefully gathered by him, and frankly placed at the disposal of those competent properly to utilise it. He grudged no expense and spared no personal effort to raise the modern industry of violin making to the rank of an art, such as it was in Italy in the time of the Amatis, Stradivari, and Guarnerius, and from which it had gradually fallen. He courted the assistance of the most learned and scientific personages of his day, and inspired them with a portion of his own enthusiasm, making no mystery of his craft, nor claiming to be possessed of secrets which he declined to reveal, a practice too common with some of his contemporaries. Death overtook him at the last so suddenly, that his varnish secret—if it really was one, which I am inclined
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