Scan 16
The Violin Gallery: Comprising: Section I. South Kensington Special …, 1890
20 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
190 VIOLIN. By A. Stradiuarius, 1709; named "La Pucelle" (The Maiden). It was called "La Pucelle" on account of its perfect preservation. This instrument was taken to Paris in 1840, put into the market, and sold to M. Lerag, Banquier, and at his death it was sold at auction to its present owner M. Glandaz. Magnificent polish, splendid preservation.
391 VIOLIN. By A. Stradiuarius 1716; "Le Messie." (The Messiah.) This instrument has been played but little. It was bought about 1760 by Count Cozio de Salabue, a distinguished amateur. He valued it highly, and kept it until his death. His heirs sold it to Luigi Tarisio, a connoisseur, and a fanatic about instruments, who kept it without letting any one see it until 1854. At his death it was committed to the care of his heirs, who carefully concealed it at "The Farm of the Cross" on the outskirts of the village of Fontanette, near Navarre, Italy. It was there that its present owner discovered it in January, 1855. The wood of which it is made is remarkable for the richness of its grain, its polish is beautiful, the work is perfect, nothing, in fact is lacking. It is a violin from the hand of a master. It is the only instrument of Stradiuarius which has come down to us in such a perfect state of preservation. This monument intact of ancient violin manufacture, this instrument whose bow was not drawn for 150 years, which was kept concealed almost from its making, this instrument has just given a great blow to that theory that a sweet and pure sound cannot be produced but after long usage, for in this new instrument we find combined all the qualities, force, mellowness, delicacy, easy vibration, a tone distinguished, noble and incisive.
5(Le Messie was bequeathed by Vulliaume to his son-in-law, M. Alard the great French violinist and composer. After his death it passed into the hands of his son-in-law, M. Crone, who has recently (in 1890) sold it through Messrs. Hill & Sons, of New Bond street, London, to an Amateur, Mr. Robert Crawford, of Trinity Road, Edinburgh, for £2000. ($10,000) the largest price ever paid for a violin. Ed.)
792 VIOLIN. By Stradiuarius.
9Lent by Mr. John Hart, Princes Street, Leicester Square, London.
1192a VIOLIN. By Stradiuarius, 1683: Made after the Amati model. Formerly the property of John Jay, Mus. Doc. of Chelsea.
13Lent by Mrs. Jay, Addison Crescent, Kensington.
1593 VIOLIN. By Joseph Guarnerius, 1734; "Violin Du Diable." It was on this instrument that M. Saint Leon produced so great an effect upon the public in an opera named "Le Violon du Diable." It is one of those rare instruments of this maker which unites all the most desirable qualities. This instrument was bought in Italy in 1820 by M. Rossel de Minet, and upon his death was sold to M. Saint Leon, and to-day belongs to Madame Fleury.
1794 VIOLIN. By Joseph Guarnerius 1735. A superb instrument in all respects.
19Lent by M. Louis d'Egville, Conduit Street, London.
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