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
The scroll is deserving of particular attention. It is quite in
keeping with the body of the instrument, and has been cut with a
decision of purpose that could only have been possessed by a master.
It is flatter than usual, if we trace it from the cheek towards the
turn, and is strikingly bold. Here, again, is the portrait of the
character of the maker. Although by a pupil of Antonio Stradivari, the
scroll is thoroughly distinct from any known production of that
maker--it lacks his fine finish and exact proportion; but, on the
other hand, it has an originality about it which is quite refreshing.
The prominent feature is the ear of the scroll, which being made to
stand forth in bold relief, gives it a broad appearance when looked at
from the front.
The work of Bergonzi, as has been the case with many of his class, has
been attributed to others. Many of his instruments are dubbed "Joseph
Guarneri," a mistake in identification which arises chiefly from the
form of the sound-hole at the upper and lower portions. There is
little else that can be considered as bearing any resemblance whatever
to the work of Guarneri, and even in this case the resemblance is very
slight. Bergonzi's outline is totally different from that of Guarneri,
and is so distinct and telling that it is sure to impress the eye of
the experienced connoisseur when first seen.
The varnish of Bergonzi is often fully as resplendent as that of
Giuseppe Guarneri or Stradivari, and shows him to have been initiated
in the mysteries of its manufacture. It is sometimes seen to be
extremely thick, at other times but sparingly laid on; often of a
deep, rich red colour, sometimes of a pale red, and again, of rich
amber, so that the variation of colour to be met with in Bergonzi's
Violins is considerable. We must concede that his method of varnishing
was scarcely so painstaking as that of his fellow-workers, if we judge
from the clots here and there, particularly on the deep-coloured
instruments; but, nevertheless, now that age has toned down the
varnish, the effect is good.
Carlo Bergonzi lived next door to Stradivari, and I believe the house
remained in the family until a few years since, when it was disposed
of.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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