Books › The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871 › scan 143
Scan 143
The Violin: A concise exposition of the general principles of construction.., 1871
2 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1characterised by a change of model, as well as by an alteration in the mode of thicknesses, from which the instruments possess a superior excellence in every respect. At one period he makes the back and breast of his violins thicker than those of his master, and at another the thicknesses of the centres are made equal to those of Stradivarius, but the graduation of such increases in quite a different ratio, to correspond with the flatness of model adopted. His finest instruments may be included in his second epoch, and are supposed to rival those of his master in every requirement. Afterwards, in nearly all the instruments, all traces of the genuine artist disappear, and his violins, being constructed from worthless wood, and with little or no care, are but of trifling value, compared to the preceding. This marks his third period, during which tradition reports that dissipation and debauchery claimed him as their victim, that he was for several years a prisoner, owing to the committal of some crime now unknown, and that whilst in the prison the daughter of the keeper supplied him with wood, tools, and varnish, and even disposed of his violins, at almost nominal prices, in order to administer to his wants in his unfortunate and miserable abode. This celebrated maker commenced working at Cremona about 1720, and is supposed to have died in prison in 1745. The violins of this artist may be generally defined thus:—Flat construction, with very slight elevation, and gradual curvature of arching; varnish remarkably fine, elastic, and of various tints of colour, passing from a light yellow to a deep red. That violinist of immortal fame, Paganini, possessed two in-
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