Scan 153
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1ITALIAN MAKERS.
3MONTADE, Gregory, Cremona, 1730. Copied Stradiuarius.
5MONTAGNANA, Dominicus, Cremona and Venice, 1700—1740. Pupil of Antonius Stradiuarius.
7Dominicus Montagnana Sub Signum Cremonae Venetiis 17
9After leaving the workshop of his famous master, he followed his art in Cremona. Many of his instruments were dated from that place. He afterwards removed to Venice, where Violin manufacture was in the most flourishing condition. In this place he soon attained great popularity, and made the splendid specimens of his art with which we are so familiar. The instructions which he had received at Cremona enabled him to surpass all in Venice. He gained great knowledge of the qualities of material, and of the thicknesses to be observed; and, moreover, he carried with him the superior form of the Cremonese school, and the glorious varnish. Mr. Reade names him "the mighty Venetian," an appellation not a whit too high-sounding, though it may appear so to the half-informed. The truth is, that Montagnana is less known than any of the great makers. For years his works have been roaming about bearing the magic labels of "Guarnerius filius Andreæ," "Carlo Bergonzi," and sometimes of "Peter Guarnerius," although there is not a particle of resemblance between the works of our author and the makers named, whose labels have been used as floats.
Makers on this page
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