Scan 180
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1909
13 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 132. See the scan on archive.org.
1Guarneri used some of the finest wood. The bellies are invariably wide in grain and very even.
3The parish register supplies the information that Pietro was married in the year 1677. He appears to have left Cremona for Mantua soon after the year 1698. He visited Cremona about the period when his father died; in which year he appears to have acted as god-father at the christening of his brother Joseph's son Bartolommeo. Pietro returned to Mantua, and later went to Venice, where he is said to have died at an advanced age.
5GUARNERI, Pietro, Mantua, born 1695. Son of Giuseppe filius Andrea. He followed to some extent the form of the instruments of his uncle Pietro, from whom, while in Mantua, he probably learnt his art. The work is very good, and his productions are well worthy of the Guarnerian name. The varnish is rich, but not so transparent nor so well laid on as to come up to the full standard. The scroll is rather weak.
7GUARNERI, Giuseppe, Cremona. Better known as Giuseppe del Gesù, his labels having the cypher IHS upon them.
9Joseph Guarnerius fecit
10Cremone Anno 17—
12It is not known why he adopted this monogram, which is that of the Jesuits. It is possible that he belonged to a fraternity in Cremona, common at that period among Italian tradesmen, who banded themselves together in various societies bearing religious titles.
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