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Scan 34
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 30 September 2026. Printed page 20. See the scan on archive.org.
1almost impossible to conceive that any definite conclusion on this point can be drawn. It was probably originally a rough guess, aided by the circumstance that Giovanni Paolo Maggini, of the same place, was one of his best pupils, although some of Maggini's tickets are not dated either (see Fig. 2). There seems, however, to be a general concurrence of opinion that Gasparo is entitled to the credit of being the founder of the Brescian school, and of being the first to construct violins in their present shape.
3This maker's instruments are large and medium-sized, strongly arched, with the f holes large, and running parallel; dark brown or deep yellow varnish, running almost to black, possibly through age. He was particularly careful in the selection of his wood, that for the belly displaying remarkable equality and regularity in the grain. The purfling is generally single, the ribs and corners are of an ordinary character, and the margins large. His proportions are not good, and the style is somewhat heavy. He is renowned for his violas, violoncellos, and basses, a number of which are still in existence and very highly prized; but I do not think there are many specimens of his violins which can be considered authentic. M. Fetis mentions two—one bearing date 1566, and sold, along with a valuable collection of instruments at Milan, as far back as 1807, and another which was in the possession of Baron Bagge about 1788. Nobody seems to know where these instruments now are, or if they still exist. Dr. Abele, a German writer, mentions a third, which the late distinguished violinist, Ole Bull, possessed, having acquired it in Vienna. According to the doctor's description, it
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