The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their ImitatorsHart, George
History
The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators
Hart, George
Violin -- History; Violin makers -- Biography
BERGONZI, Carlo, Cremona, 1716-47.
Anno 17-- Carlo Bergonzi, fece
in Cremona.
Pupil of Antonio Stradivari. That he was educated in Violin-making by
the greatest master of his art is evidenced beyond doubt. In his
instruments may be clearly traced the teachings of Stradivari. The
model, the thicknesses, and the scroll, together with the general
treatment, all agree in betokening that master's influence. Giuseppe
Guarneri del Gesu here stands in strong contrast with Bergonzi. All
writers on the subject of Violins assume that Guarneri was instructed
by Stradivari, a statement based upon no reasons (for none have ever
been adduced), and apparently a mere repetition of some one's first
guess or error. As before remarked, Carlo Bergonzi, in his work, and
in the way in which he carries out his ideas, satisfactorily shows the
source whence his early instructions were derived, and may be said to
have inscribed the name of his great master, not in print, but in the
entire body of every instrument which he made. This cannot be said of
Giuseppe Guarneri. On the contrary, there is not a point throughout
his work that can be said to bear any resemblance to the sign manual
of Stradivari. As this interesting subject is considered at length in
the notice of Giuseppe Guarneri, it is unnecessary to make further
comment in this place.
The instruments of Carlo Bergonzi are justly celebrated both for
beauty of form and tone, and are rapidly gaining the appreciation of
artistes and amateurs. Commercially, no instruments have risen more
rapidly than those of this maker; their value has continuously
increased within recent years, more particularly in England, where
their merits were earliest acknowledged--a fact which certainly
reflects much credit upon our connoisseurs. In France they had a good
character years ago, and have been gaining rapidly upon their old
reputation, and now our neighbours regard them with as much favour as
we do.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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