Books › The Hawley Collection of violins, 1904 › scan 151
Scan 151
The Hawley Collection of violins, 1904
8 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 77. See the scan on archive.org.
1NICOLAS LUPOT. THE HAWLEY LUPOT
3nish on this violin is superfine. It is of a deep golden shade, soft in texture and applied with perfect evenness over the beautifully figured maple back and sides.
5The latter part of Lupot's life was not so prolific, probably because of advancing age, and the large amount of repair work which required his personal attention; this work was profitable and served to keep him in touch with the violinists of the day. As the official luthier to the Paris Conservatoire, he made one violin a year which went as a prize to the winner of the Grand Prix. He had held this official position almost from the time he came to Paris. The office was established by the Convention Nationale, August 3, 1795. After the year 1820 much of the work devolved on his son-in-law and pupil, François Gand. Many of Lupot's violins were varnished by Gand, particularly in the later years of that master. It is of different texture than Lupot's varnish and is always of a deep red color. A set of instruments ordered by the Royal Chapel, which he was unable to finish, was varnished and completed by Gand. Lupot died in 1824. After this unhappy event a careful search was made for the formula of his varnish, but it was never found, and the business descended to his son-in-law. Throughout his life Lupot did not depart from his loyalty to Stradivari's model. He made but a few copies of Guarneri and still fewer of Amati. One of his Guarneri copies is in our possession. It is unique in that in model, figure of wood, and workmanship it bears remarkable resemblance to the King Joseph Guarneri, 1737. He varnished his instruments with a complete coat, to which he did not by artificial means seek to impart an appearance of age. A hundred years have now elapsed, which have added much to the rich effect of his varnish, which would not have been the case had he imitated the old appearance which age and usage lend. His violins are solidly constructed, having plenty of wood and are of ample size. He caught the true style of every Stradivari line and was able to produce it in a wonderful manner in his own work. His 'cellos stand very high, though in them he did not reach the high standard attained in his violins. The advance in the value of his instruments is a matter of interest, for in rapidity it has eclipsed that of any other maker. Prices vary according to the beauty and tone of different instruments, but so recently as thirty years ago, the price in Europe for a fine specimen was only from 1,000 to 1,500 francs. To-day the more desirable examples of his work in Paris bring from 5,000 to 10,000 francs. The French, however, are very patriotic and intensely loyal to their own makers, and consequently nowhere else are Lupot violins so highly valued as in Paris. Lupot's influence on the efforts of contemporary and later makers was very marked and is seen in the work of all the best makers since his time. Through him and his followers we have the instruments to which we must turn, now that the supply of broad-patterned Italian violins is becoming exhausted. It is unfortunate that there are so few Lupot violins. One good authority places the number as far less than Stradivari's. Lupot was a plodding, pains-taking workman, and that, coupled with the fact that he carried on a large business besides, accounts for the paucity of his work. Several of his finest violins were lost in the fire of 1835.
7The foundation of Lupot's great popularity among violinists is the extreme solidity and effectiveness of his tone. But had his instruments a less remarkable timbre, their beautiful workmanship would fit them for the cabinet of the collector. Lupot did his work well. His fame is secure. He achieved in his masterpieces a union of all the qualities that are prized by violinists and collectors.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.