Scan 278
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
4 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1concerning this maker may be mentioned that of his having been a pupil of Nicholas Amati. In all notices of Jacobus Stainer this statement is made without any reasonable support. It is certain there is no direct evidence in support of it, neither is it shown that his work is founded on that of Amati. I am satisfied that Stainer was assisted by neither the Brothers Amati nor Nicholas Amati, and I am strengthened in this opinion by the steadfastly German character of a model which no pupil of Amati could have persisted in using, even though based on his earliest traditions. That Stainer went to Cremona the labels in a few of his works testify, but there is no mention of his having been with any maker in particular to my knowledge.
3There is another rumour concerning Jacobus Stainer which savours of romance. It is said that in consequence of the great grief that he experienced upon the death of his wife he withdrew from the world, and became an inmate of a Benedictine monastery, and that he made within its walls the famous instruments known as Elector Stainers, which he presented to the twelve Electors. Whether he made them to order in the usual manner, whether he presented them, or where he made them, matters little; they are works of great merit, and need no mysterious surroundings to call attention to them. The followers of Stainer have been numerous, and are mentioned in the lists of German and English makers. Probably no maker is more mistaken than
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