Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737) . 715 by special order of the King to awaitthe completion of twelve violins which had been orderedfrom Stradivari. He remained there three months^ andthen took the instruments back with him to Poland. Noconclusions of a definite nature can be deduced from thesetwo statements, but they have nevertheless some bearingon this question of the time spent by the master in themaking of an instrument. Oft-repeated examination ofmany examples of Stradivaris work justifies us in statingthat he was an expeditious worker. Nothing executed byhim bears the im
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737) . 715 by special order of the King to awaitthe completion of twelve violins which had been orderedfrom Stradivari. He remained there three months^ andthen took the instruments back with him to Poland. Noconclusions of a definite nature can be deduced from thesetwo statements, but they have nevertheless some bearingon this question of the time spent by the master in themaking of an instrument. Oft-repeated examination ofmany examples of Stradivaris work justifies us in statingthat he was an expeditious worker. Nothing executed byhim bears the impress of having been laboured either instyle or finish. He was a past master in handling thetools, and all his works bear the stamp of having beencarefully, intelligently, but quickly carried out. In a THE NUMBER OF VIOLONCELLOS 239 warm climate, such as that of Cremona, we should scarcelypresume that during the summer months Stradivari workedas many hours a day as the average workman in a colderland ; but after duly weighing this point and making. Fig. 61.—The Sound-hole, delicately cut out in wood, of a Guitar BY Stradivari. allowance for the time passed in striking out designs,constructing moulds, etc., we think that at the lowest com-putation he completed one violoncello or two violins in amonth ; say, an average of twenty-five violins or tenvioloncellos in a year; and we believe, could it be only 240 NUMBER OF INSTRUMENTS MADE verified, that our estimate would be found to be ratherbelow than above the actual number. Fetis* tells us thatPolledro, the violinist, who died in 1853 at an advancedage, stated that his master knew Stradivari, and tookpleasure in mentioning the fact. He (Stradivari) wastail and thin in appearance, and invariably to be seen inhis working costume, which rarely changed, as he wasalways at work. Whether this statement be fact orfiction we cannot say ; but we are in a position to vouchfor the actual existence of Stradivari instruments bearingtheir ori
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