Scan 66
The violin & its story : or, the history & construction of the violin, 1905
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 50. See the scan on archive.org.
1last pervaded his work. Such a change in the character of his violins would be altogether inexplicable if we had not heard (though by rumour only) of the misfortunes which dogged his steps in his latter days, and which were no doubt the chief cause of this great and lamentable falling off. The reports once current in Italy respecting the troubles with which Guarnerius had to struggle in his declining years, are uncertain and occasionally contradictory; but thus much we do know, that the end of this brilliant artist was not the end of a well-to-do man. Bergonzi (grandson of the Carlo previously mentioned), who died at eighty years of age, used to say that Guarnerius del Gesu lived a very irregular life; that he was slothful and negligent; that he was too much given to wine and pleasure; and that his married life was not happy. According to one report, which is unconfirmed, he spent a few years in prison, where he died in 1745. Other reports correspond with Bergonzi's story. It is told that the prisoner's daughter took him the necessary wood and a few tools, with which he produced some fiddles, which however do him little credit. This same daughter brought out the violins when finished, and sold them at a low price in order to provide him with a few comforts to relieve his distress; that she bought, first from one violin maker and then from another, the varnish with which he covered these prison-made instruments, and that these facts explain the varieties of workmanship and of colour which cannot fail to be observed in the instruments produced at this period.
3The fame of Joseph Guarnerius in Italy began at his death; but it was much later before his renown extended to France and Germany. Vuillaume, to whom we are indebted for this information, remarks that when he was young the price of one of Joseph Guarnerius's best violins was not more than 1,200 francs (£48), whereas a fine Strad fetched about £85: but later on, when men had learned to appreciate the fine tone of a Guarnerius, and his works were more sought after, the price rose to 6,000 francs (£240).
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