Scan 142
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 92. See the scan on archive.org.
1These splendid chef d'œuvres are strangely mixed with those commonly known as the "prison fiddles"—a sorry title. The name arose from the story current in Italy that Guarnerius made some fiddles whilst undergoing imprisonment for some political offence, and that the gaoler's daughter procured him the necessary materials and implements, which were of the coarsest description. There is no reason to doubt this story, which the rough character of the work confirms.
3These, then, were the three periods of this remarkable man's life, and I have now only to point out some other features in his work and material. His selection of wood, when he had the opportunity of exercising his own judgment, was all that could be desired, and the belly wood, in particular, was of the choicest description. He seems to have obtained a piece of pine, of considerable size, possessing extraordinary acoustic properties, from which he made nearly the whole of his bellies. The bellies made from this particular wood have a singular stain running parallel with the finger-board on either side, and unmistakable, though frequently seen but faintly. If we may judge from the constant use he made of this material, it would seem that he regarded it as a mine of wealth. The care he bestowed, when working it, that none should be lost, and his constant insertion of it in the place of what had been damaged, afford clear evidence of the value that he set upon this precious piece of
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