Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 230
Scan 230
the history of the violin, 1864
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 208. See the scan on archive.org.
1The most celebrated maker of this family was Nicolas Amati, the son of Hieronymus, who was born in 1596, and died in 1684; he was a pupil of his father, and followed the models of his family, but was more finished and paid greater attention to the proportions. He had two patterns; his instruments of the earlier form being small, but handsome, with a sweet tone, and well calculated for quartetts and other chamber music. His instruments most sought after, however, are those of the large or grand pattern, which are powerful as well as sweet in tone, and the violins equal to most of those of Stradiuarius. The upper plate, which is generally made of handsome deal, is flat towards the sides, but then rises about an inch towards the centre. The lower plate, which, with the sides and neck, is made of beautifully figured maple, also rises towards the centre; the sides are well hollowed out, and the edges rounded. The S S holes are not far apart, but are not so straight as those of the other Amatis. The varnish is usually of a golden hue, sometimes approaching to brown; the tone brilliant, with considerable power on the first string, and round and full on the third and fourth strings, but sometimes a little nasal on the second string, arising, it is supposed, from the elevation in the centre, and the diminution of the thickness of the wood from the centre to the sides being too great. His instruments are much sought after, and valued at from 80l. to 200l. each. Fetis mentions a remarkably fine instrument of his make, with the date 1668, in the collection of Count de Salabue at Milan, and another in the possession of Allard, the violin player, which was said to be one of his best. Dr. Forster, writing in 1849, states that Mr. Betts had one of the finest Amatis, which was worth 250l., and another of Andrew and Jerome, meaning probably Antonius
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