Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737) . en weconsider the difficulty experienced by the old and en- 90 STRADIVARIS VIOLINS feebled, though practised, hand, of bending the sides ofthe centre bouts with well-rounded curves; and it mustbe remembered that the curves of the outline follow thoseof the sides. The modelling is heavy, full, and abrupt ; we notice the ab-sence of that grace-ful blending withthe fluting aroundthe edge. Theheads, while dis-tinctly exhibitingthe work of lessskilful hands, arenot so much likethe work of an oldman as the bodies,and we cannot butbelieve that Strad
Antonio Stradivari, his life and work (1644-1737) . en weconsider the difficulty experienced by the old and en- 90 STRADIVARIS VIOLINS feebled, though practised, hand, of bending the sides ofthe centre bouts with well-rounded curves; and it mustbe remembered that the curves of the outline follow thoseof the sides. The modelling is heavy, full, and abrupt ; we notice the ab-sence of that grace-ful blending withthe fluting aroundthe edge. Theheads, while dis-tinctly exhibitingthe work of lessskilful hands, arenot so much likethe work of an oldman as the bodies,and we cannot butbelieve that Stradi-vari made a certainnumber in formeryears which he nowutilised ; we arealso of opinion thathis sons materiallyassisted him in thisdirection, hence thesuperiority of thefinish of the onepart over that of theother. The varnishgenerally shows, though not without exception, considerabledeterioration. More often it is heavily laid on, wanting insoftness of texture, and in perfect transparency and rich-ness of colour. At times it is even of a muddy and. •^ g- 33-—Edge, Purfling, and Sound-hole ofTHE Example known as the Muntz, BIADE in 1736. 1732, 1732, 1733, 1734, 1734, 1735, 1735, ^73^, 1736, 1736, 1737, REPRESENTATIVE SPECIMENS 91 streaky appearance, which but too plainly demonstratesthat the old mans sight failed him both in the mixingof the ingredients composing the varnish and in the useof his brush when applying it to the instrument. Some of the most representative specimens known to usof these last years are : — The Kiesewetter, dated 1731, owned by the late Mr. Havemeyer. The Violin „ 1732, „ „ Mrs. Tom Taylor. „ „ the late Mr. Wiener. „ „ M. Roussy. „ „ the late Lord Amherst ofHackney. „ ,, Mr. Phipps, Ames. „ „ M. Lamoureux (the late). ,, „ M. Samazeuilh. TheMuntz „ 1736, „ „ Mr. Higgins. The Viohn „ 173^, „ „ ^^Ii?- Sassoon. ,, „ M. Roussy. „ „ M. White. We are also acquainted with other equally characteristicexamples
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