A glance at the rise, culmination, and decadence of Art in Italy, and the Violin as connected therewith--The Italians far in advance of other nations in the manufacture--The five Schools of Italian makers--Roger North on the demand for Italian Violins--Brescia the cradle of the manufacture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57-69 SECTION V.--THE ITALIAN VARNISH. The formation of the Italian Varnish a secret lost to the world--Lustrous character of that of Cremona--Characteristics of the four classes of Italian Varnish--Conjecture as to the loss of the secret--Influence of the different Varnishes on the tone of the Violin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-76 SECTION VI.--ITALIAN MAKERS. Acevo--Albanesi--Albani--Aletzie--Alvani--AMATI, ANDREA; evidence as to date of birth; his Violins small; founded the School of Cremona; probably a pupil of Gasparo da Salo; his model high, and sound-hole inelegant; his varnish deep golden; his "Charles IX. Set" of twenty-four Violins, six Tenors and eight Basses--Amati, Niccolo--AMATI, the Brothers ANTONIO and GIROLAMO; probable date of birth; comparison of the respective work, material, and tone of the two brothers--AMATI, NICCOLO, son of Girolamo; date of birth and death; the greatest of his illustrious family; gradual change in style; the "Grand Amati," followed by his great pupil, Stradivari; its exquisite proportions and character; singular beauty of his material, and elegance of design; differences between Niccolo Amati and his several copyists, Italian, German, and English--AMATI, GIROLAMO; date of birth; his work ascribed to other makers; character of his instruments and his varnish; the last of the Amatis--Ambrosi, Pietro--Anselmo, Pietro--Antoniazzi, Gaetano--Antonio of Bologna--Antonio, Ciciliano--Assalone, Gasparo . . . . . . . . . 77-94 Bagatella, Antonio--Bagatella, Pietro--BALESTRIERI, TOMMASO; probably a pupil of Stradivari; his work rough, but vigorous, tone and varnish good; his instruments rising in value--Bassiano, Lute-maker, Rome--Bellosio, Anselmo--Bente, Matteo--BERGONZI, CARLO; pupil of Antonio Stradivari; his work closely resembling that of his great master, and of the highest class; increasing appreciation; comparison of his instruments with those of Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri; character of his varnish, &c.; Violoncellos and Double-Basses of this maker--Bergonzi, Michel Angelo--BERGONZI, NICCOLO; character of his work--Bergonzi, Zosimo--Bergonzi, Carlo--Bergonzi, Benedetto--Bertassi, Ambrogio--Bertolotti (see Salo)--Bimbi, B.--Borelli, Andrea--Brensio, Girolamo--Brescia, da, Battista--Broschi, Carlo--Busseto, Giovanni . . . . . . . . . . 95-104