Books › The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871 › scan 139
Scan 139
The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871
6 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1working together for a number of years, they appear to have separated, from which arose a change of form and quality in their instruments. The violins of Jerome were generally of large model, made of excellent wood, arching sloping very gradually, having high elevation, the backs often in one piece, the varnish mahogany-coloured, and the finish usually admirable. Those of Anthony rivalled the preceding in finish and quality, although the wood is scarcely of such choice beauty.
3Having thus glanced at the foregoing makers, and their instruments, we now arrive at the most renowned maker of the family—Nicholas,* the son of Jerome, and nephew of Anthony, who was born in 1596. His instruments are masterpieces of workmanship in every detail, possessing a tone of ethereal purity, a combination of brilliant power and sweetness. He adopted two sizes, a large or grand—as this form is now familiarly known by—and a small pattern; but the violins of the largest model are those which are held in the most estimation. His instruments are of deep elevation, with a peculiar form of arching, no doubt based upon, and perfected from, the principles of the curves of the vibrating string of the violin, which bear a close analogy in several of their forms to the archings of our finest instruments. The back and breast of his violins are thick in the central parts, diminishing gradually by exquisite workmanship to the sides, where they are
5* There was another Nicholas, brother of Andrew, and consequently uncle of Anthony, of whom mention is made in Lupot's work on the Violin. Anthony is also supposed to have had a son named Nicholas—see Translator's note in Otto's work, p. 62.
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